A hot potato: X says that it has just identified a bot farm of approximately 200,000 accounts created by Chinese operators. What's getting a lot of attention is that 200 of these accounts were apparently dedicated to posting anti-AI data center content designed to influence public perception. The country has tried this before with little success – most people already hate the facilities, anyway.
X's Global Government Affairs writes that the 200 accounts were posting "in a manner that could manipulate a legitimate debate about American AI and energy policy."
The posts contained "claims" that AI data centers are driving up household electricity prices and straining the grid. Other posts featured AI-generated cartoons that depicted data-center operators enriching themselves at the public's expense.
– Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) August 28, 2026
At least two of the example images appeared in a similar OpenAI report from June. It claimed that China-based ChatGPT users asked the chatbot for ways to influence Americans' opinions of data centers in the US. The resulting posts also claimed that AI data center buildouts for AI were increasing electricity prices for average families.
When discussing rising electricity prices, the OpenAI report said the accounts "claimed" this was the case. But it really is happening, as noted by Bloomberg, which found that prices have risen by up to 267% in areas near data centers.
Goldman Sachs came to a similar conclusion. It wrote that electricity prices have already increased by 6.9% year-over-year as of February 2026, and they'll continue to increase as more AI data centers are built.
X didn't say what the remaining 198,800 accounts were posting. OpenAI's June report said the other main content criticized US tariffs and technology policies, so one could assume the same thing was happening here.
The pushback against data centers in the US has been growing in both size and intensity. It's led to claims that the opposition hurts the economy and national security. Fox News compared it to protesting against tank and plane factories during World War II. Even President Donald Trump said those opposing the construction of new data centers are "making a mistake."
Ultimately, it feels like China is wasting its time trying to convince people of something they already believe. The facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity and can strain power grids that were never designed for such concentrated demand. One planned Michigan campus is expected to draw 1.4 gigawatts – roughly the output of a nuclear power plant – while residents have also raised concerns about traffic and the loss of agricultural land.
Water use is another major concern. Virginia data centers consumed at least 1.85 billion gallons in 2023, up from 1.13 billion gallons in 2019. In Georgia, one development used 29 million gallons of water before receiving a bill while nearby residents complained about low water pressure.
The expansion can also bring constant noise and more pollution, especially as operators turn to diesel generators and gas turbines when the grid cannot keep up. China may be exploiting the controversy, but it certainly didn't invent it.
