Hundreds of Suspected Chinese Fake Accounts Helping Fuel Opposition To Data Centers In The U.S., X Claims

Hundreds of suspected Chinese fake accounts have been posting to fuel the opposition to the building of data centers in the U.S., X claimed.

The company's safety team said it "identified a bot farm of approximately 200,000 accounts," 200 of which were "posting in a manner that could manipulate a legitimate debate about American AI and energy policy."

"These posts contained claims that AI data centers are 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," X added in a post.

However, other reports and polls have shown organic opposition to data centers in the country.

Axios noted on last week that AI executives and Republican officials are increasingly concerned that public opposition could slow construction and make elected officials less willing to approve new projects.

The political shift comes as the amount of money committed to AI infrastructure continues to rise.

Goldman Sachs Research estimates the biggest AI providers will spend about $755 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, rising to $920 billion next year. Data centers and energy infrastructure account for a significant part of those expansion plans.

The growth is putting additional demands on the U.S. electricity system. U.S. data center power demand is expected to more than double from 31 gigawatts in 2025 to 66 gigawatts in 2027, according to Goldman Sachs. Data centers could account for 8.5% of peak U.S. summer electricity demand by then, up from 4.1% in 2025.

Those requirements have contributed to local debates over who should pay for new power infrastructure and whether large data center projects could increase electricity costs for households.

Public attitudes toward AI more broadly are also becoming more cautious.

According to Pew Research Center, polling cited by Axios, 52% of Americans now say they are more concerned than excited about the increased use of AI in daily life, up from 37% in 2021.

The change is also visible among younger Americans. Fifty-five percent of adults under 30 said they were more concerned than excited about AI, with potential job losses among the reasons cited.

Data centers themselves face greater opposition. A June Echelon Insights survey cited by Axios found only 27% of voters would support an AI data center being built in their community, the lowest level of support among the types of projects included in the poll.

That public sentiment is beginning to affect state politics. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday signed an executive order imposing new requirements on data center developments after previously supporting major investment in the sector.

The issue is also appearing in Wisconsin's governor's race.

Republican nominee Tom Tiffany, an ally of President Donald Trump, has attacked Democratic opponent David Crowley over comments supporting Wisconsin becoming a major center for AI infrastructure.

That position differs from the Trump administration's broader push to expand U.S. AI infrastructure and maintain the country's position in the global technology industry.