Social media platform X identified inauthentic Chinese accounts pushing data center opposition

The XSafety team on the X social media platform conducted an investigation into inauthentic accounts connected to China that were part of an anti-data center influence operation. 

The team identified a bot farm operating approximately 200,000 accounts, and among those accounts were 200 posting anti-data center content, X's Global Government Affairs reported Thursday. 

A bot farm is a coordinated operation in which software manages numerous accounts or devices to generate fake online activity at scale, including engagement such as "likes," comments and responses. 

According to Global Government Affairs for X, the posts generated by the Chinese bot farm were intended to manipulate a legitimate debate about artificial intelligence and energy policy in the U.S. The posts made claims about AI data centers driving up household electricity prices and straining the grid. Others included AI-generated cartoons that depicted data-center operators enriching themselves at the public's expense.

"We remain committed to maintaining an open and authentic platform where people debate topics of public interest. We take seriously any attempts to undermine the integrity of the global town square and suspend accounts that violate our Authenticity policy," Global Government Affairs said.