X busts 200,000-strong Chinese bot farm, including accounts making claims about AI data centers and electricity — suspect accounts posted claims about pricing and grid strain to 'manipulate' debate
The X Safety Team said that at least 200 bot accounts have been making posts to influence public opinion data centers and energy policy. The accounts share links to legitimate news stories and then add their own spin designed to inflame emotions.
X's Global Government Affairs team announced the discovery of a massive 200,000-strong bot farm operating on the platform. Among these accounts, 200 were identified as suspected Chinese-operated accounts, whose purpose was to manipulate public perception regarding AI data centers and their impact on electricity prices. The team claimed that these accounts were created to amplify negative consequences of AI data centers on electricity costs.
Among the posts, some featured claims of grid strain and manipulation of debate surrounding American AI and energy policy.
The investigation revealed that some of the accounts used names like Thomas Jackson, Patricia Robinson, Sandra Thompson, and Kenneth Flores, which suggested ownership by Americans. These accounts shared news stories from legitimate sources like The Southern Maryland Chronicle, often accompanied by AI-generated cartoons depicting data-center operators as profiteers at the public's expense. Despite the accounts appearing American, their narratives aimed to incite public outrage and divide opinions on AI.
The team couldn't determine the exact sponsors or sanctioners behind the China-linked accounts, but they noted reports of China-linked operations attempting to divide U.S. opinion on AI. However, this opposition is not solely driven by Chinese propaganda. A recent poll indicated that the primary catalyst for data center protests is local environmental and economic concerns. While these concerns are valid, there is a separate threat of foreign intervention in domestic American politics.
The resistance against data centers is not entirely driven by foreign influence; local environmental and economic issues also play a significant role. Nonetheless, the ease with which nation-states can manipulate public opinion through propaganda and information on the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence has made vigilance more crucial than ever before.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Hardware's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
