Table 1 Examples of Tweets by Bot Types. User names and URLs are removed as these can potentially uniquely identify the users

Bot

[Rest of the World] I’m bored why can’t we have some real life alien invasion #SpyBalloon #ChinaSpyBalloon #AlienInvasion #BBCNews #BBCNewsTen

[United States] #ChineseBalloon saga causing political damage already... It’s a weather balloon, so #China said [...] (URL)

[United States] @(User) I’m not 100% if authentic, but it seems that is a meteorite that came down and may had produced that explosion you heard... Unless is a fake video. But it has nothing to do with the #ChineseBalloon

News Bot

[China] #USA #China #14February [...] One could speculate that the US is using the #ChineseSpyBalloon ‘excuse’ to escalate tensions with #Beijing.. Recall that US airspace is highly controlled and that there are more accurate satellite technologies for spying (URL)

[United States] #USA #China #14February @(NewsUser) - The #Biden administration has blocked the sale of certain US technologies to various Chinese companies - This follows the #ChineseSpyBalloon events - In particular 5 companies allegedly supported programmes for these blimps [...]

[Rest of the World] #USA is under attack @(User). Modern wars not fought just using missiles or bombs. #ChineseSpyBalloon #ChinaBalloon #Balloon could be act of Cyber war, #Bioweapon, EMP or surveillance of nuclear installations. The world is watching how president #Biden handle #china firmly on this

Bridging Bot

[United States] @(User): Should have been shot down over Alaska. It’s always about the politics. #Biden #ChineseSpyBalloon

[Rest of the World] @(User1): Enjoyed joining @(User2) to discuss the #ChineseSpyBalloon

[Rest of the World] Balloons have been used in warfare going back 200+ years and you’re telling me the most advanced and expensive military the world has ever seen has no way to safely take out a large gently floating bag of air? @(User1) @(User2)