AI Bots Flood UK Smoke‑Free Generation Consultation, Accounting for 75% of Submissions

A recent analysis of publicly released data and freedom‑of‑information requests reveals that roughly three‑quarters of the comments submitted to the United Kingdom's 2023 public consultation on a smoke‑free generation and tighter controls on disposable e‑cigarettes were generated by artificial‑intelligence bots rather than by individual citizens.

The consultation, launched by the Department of Health and Social Care, sought input on proposals to prohibit the sale of combustible cigarettes to anyone born after a certain year and to curb the rapid growth of disposable vaping products. It attracted thousands of responses, a figure that officials initially interpreted as strong public interest in the health‑focused measures.

Researchers who examined the raw response files identified patterns typical of automated text generation: repetitive phrasing, identical sentence structures across multiple submissions, and timestamps that clustered within seconds of each other. By cross‑referencing IP address logs and employing language‑model detection tools, they estimated that about 75 % of the entries were not human‑authored.

The discovery has sparked debate over the reliability of online consultations as a gauge of public opinion. Critics argue that the presence of AI‑generated feedback could skew policy decisions, while some digital‑rights advocates warn that blanket bans on automated submissions might suppress legitimate, tech‑savvy participation.

Government officials have not yet disclosed how the artificial responses will be weighted in the final analysis, but a spokesperson for the department said the consultation process includes “robust verification steps” and that the findings will be taken into account when drafting legislation.

Experts suggest the episode underscores the need for updated guidelines on digital engagement, including clearer authentication mechanisms and transparency about the role of AI in public discourse. As policymakers move toward finalising the smoke‑free generation strategy, the episode may prompt a broader review of how governments collect and evaluate citizen input in an increasingly automated online environment.