Social media platform X identified a bot farm of approximately 200,000 suspected Chinese inauthentic accounts. The network included about 200 accounts specifically targeting legitimate debates on American artificial intelligence and energy policy.

Bot Network Targets AI Energy Debate

The X Global Government Affairs team stated on Thursday that its Safety investigation uncovered the broader network. Within this group, the specific subset of accounts posted content designed to manipulate discussions regarding AI infrastructure and grid costs.

These accounts claimed that AI data centers were driving up household electricity bills and straining the power grid. Some also circulated AI-generated cartoons portraying data-center operators as enriching themselves at the public’s expense.

Policy Context

The campaign targeted a genuine policy flashpoint. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory estimates data centers could account for 11.8% of U.S. electricity by 2030, with scenarios ranging from 9.5% to 15.3%.

Concerns over these costs have prompted debate over whether AI infrastructure is raising household power bills. The Trump administration has acknowledged the affordability risk through its expanded Ratepayer Protection Pledge. This program commits participating technology companies and data-center operators to cover new power and infrastructure costs rather than shift them to households. The White House says the program now covers about 80% of electricity delivered to U.S. homes and businesses.

Political Reaction

GOP lawmaker Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said foreign actors are helping manufacture political divisions in the U.S. She wrote on Thursday that "the divide that you’re seeing in this country is largely manufactured by foreign countries like China."

Broader Influence Threat

Separate U.S. intelligence findings lend context to these warnings, though they do not establish Chinese government control of X’s newly identified network. The intelligence community previously said pro-China actors used fake social-media accounts and AI-generated personas to sow divisions over immigration, abortion and drug use.

Reuters separately reported in February that researchers tracked another Chinese-linked influence network targeting political debates in several countries.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned that President Xi Jinping will "turn on the charm" during his upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump next month. Haley stated China is "not our friend," citing Beijing's alleged funding of Iran's war effort and hacking of U.S. infrastructure.

Diplomatic Warnings

Haley wrote on X that Xi would claim China is a good actor during the summit. She alleged Beijing is simultaneously "funding Iran in a war against us, hacking our critical infrastructure, and undermining America at every turn." She urged Washington to "hold them accountable."

Haley has consistently cast China as an adversary. In 2023, she called it "the biggest threat we've had since Pearl Harbor." In June, she made similar claims regarding China supplying weapons systems to Iran, while alleging Russia provided drones and satellite support.

Cybersecurity Actions

The Justice Department and FBI announced the seizure of domains used by QScan and QTRouter, hacking platforms linked to the China-based group QTFY. Court records link QTFY to Nanjing Xinjiuwei Network Technology Co. The records allege the company sold hacking services to China's Ministry of State Security and the People's Liberation Army.

Alleged targets included NASA, the Federal Reserve, the Energy and Justice departments, and the U.S. Senate.

Trade and Tariffs

The upcoming meeting marks the second between the leaders this year, following Trump's visit to Beijing in May. The two established new bilateral trade and investment boards, though Taiwan and trade-fairness concerns remain unresolved. The Trump administration is separately weighing a 7.5% tariff on Chinese imports over industrial overcapacity.