AI bots filled 76% of responses to 2023 UK disposable vapes ban consultation
Overview
Research published in Tobacco Control says 90,835 of the 118,756 responses to a 2023 UK government consultation on the tobacco and vapes bill were machine-generated.
The responses, nearly all opposing a plan to ban disposable vapes, were often duplicated and sent from a small number of IP addresses.
The Department of Health and Social Care says it identified the bot submissions using bot-detection methods and excluded them from its decision-making.
Written by AI from the articles below · updated Oct 27, 6:45 PM ET
Check the sources:
Article timeline
The articles in this story. Times are ET.
- The Guardian · AINewsAI bots flooded a 2023 UK consultation on disposable vapes ban with 76% fake responses
AIResearch published in Tobacco Control says 90,835 of 118,756 responses to a 2023 UK government consultation on the tobacco and vapes bill were machine-generated. The Department of Health and Social Care says it identified the bot submissions using bot-detection methods and excluded them from its decision-making. The responses, nearly all opposing a plan to ban disposable vapes, were often duplicated and sent from a small number of IP addresses.
Heat Trend
- Current comparable heat
- 7
- Peak comparable heat
- 10Oct 27, 7:00 PM ET
- Change in past 24 hours
- –
The trend compares only continuously observed participants, so its scope may be smaller than the current heat total. Hover or tap for hourly heat; use arrow keys with a keyboard.