AI Bots Flooded 2023 UK Vape Ban Consultation: 75% of Responses Were Fake

A new analysis reveals that three-quarters of responses to the UK government's 2023 consultation on banning disposable vapes were generated by artificial intelligence. The coordinated bot campaign, the first known attempt to use AI to derail health policy in the UK, aimed to block the tobacco and vapes bill but ultimately failed. The bill passed into law, banning disposable vapes to protect public health, especially among youth. The flood of fake submissions highlights the growing vulnerability of democratic processes to AI-driven manipulation, raising urgent questions about how governments can safeguard public consultations. As AI tools become more accessible, regulators face mounting pressure to verify genuine public input and prevent machine-generated noise from drowning out real voices in policymaking.