AI bots flooded 2023 UK government consultation on disposable vapes ban

Research indicates that AI bots flooded a 2023 UK government consultation regarding the tobacco and vapes bill. Approximately three-quarters of all responses were machine-generated in a coordinated attempt to derail health policymaking and stop the ban on disposable vapes from passing into law. These responses were overwhelmingly targeted at opposing the restrictions. This event is considered the first such coordinated effort to use AI to influence UK legislation through tens of thousands of fake submissions.