Wisconsin investigators have uncovered a scheme to hire paid social‑media posters to tout a massive AI data center under construction in Port Washington. The effort, led by former Republican legislative aide and public‑relations consultant Scott A. Becher, requires participants to sign nondisclosure agreements before even applying.
Recruitment details
According to documents obtained by Wisconsin Watch, anyone interested in the “creators and AI” work must agree to keep the project documents, surveys, and all related emails confidential. Becher, who previously served as chief of staff for former state Rep. Steve Wieckert and ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Neenah, posted two supportive Facebook messages about data centers in early 2025, praising high‑tech investment and job creation.
Potential paid‑post network
Software analyst Charles Rathmann, a longtime acquaintance of Becher, said he was approached in September to become a paid poster for the $15 billion OpenAI/Oracle/Vantage facility. Rathmann declined, noting the lack of disclosure that the content would be sponsored. Becher offered $100 for attending a meeting if the application were accepted, but did not specify the compensation for actual posting.
Transparency concerns
Rathmann likened the effort to the “manufacture of consent” described by media critics such as Walter Lippmann and Noam Chomsky, warning that undisclosed paid advocacy undermines trustworthy public discourse. Vantage, the Denver‑based developer, declined comment on the paid‑poster program, instead pointing to a broader advertising campaign called Project Lighthouse, which it says follows applicable advertising guidelines.
Legislative response
State Rep. Clint Moses (R‑Menomonie) introduced legislation in February to bar nondisclosure agreements between data‑center developers and local governments. The bill stalled, but Moses plans to reintroduce it in the upcoming session and expand it to cover the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., after reports that the agency has signed at least five NDAs with developers.
Other data‑center projects
The Port Washington project joins two other hyperscale facilities under construction in the state: Microsoft’s $20 billion complex in Mount Pleasant and Meta’s $1 billion plant in Beaver Dam. Both companies said they have no knowledge of paid‑post efforts.
Community impact
Local residents and observers worry that undisclosed paid promotion could skew public perception of these large‑scale developments, which promise jobs and tax revenue but also raise questions about environmental impact and community input. Transparency and open dialogue remain essential as Wisconsin navigates the balance between attracting high‑tech investment and protecting the integrity of public discourse.
Original reporting: Wisconsin Watch — read the source article.
