Neus · Neutral News Analysis
AI Bots Flood UK Government Consultation on Disposable Vapes Ban
Research reveals that three-quarters of the responses to a 2023 UK government consultation on disposable vapes were machine-generated by AI bots. This incident marks the first known large-scale attempt to use artificial intelligence to interfere with health policymaking in the UK, though the effort ultimately failed to prevent the bill's advancement.
Referenced News Coverage (4 sources)
- Warning issued after 'first instance of large-scale AI interference' in government consultation (The Independent UK)
- AI bots flooded 2023 UK government consultation on disposable vapes ban (The Guardian)
- Majority of responses to consultation on smoking Bill ‘generated by AI bots’ (Evening Standard)
- Huge swarm of AI bots flooded vape ban consultation to influence outcome, study finds (The Independent UK)