AI bots flood UK vape ban consultation with fake responses

The Guardian reported that three-quarters of the replies to the 2023 UK government consultation on a disposable vape ban were generated by artificial‑intelligence bots. Researchers found tens of thousands of the submissions were machine‑produced in an effort to block the tobacco and vapes bill from becoming law. The coordinated campaign did not succeed, and the ban is still set to proceed. The analysis described the operation as the first organized attempt to use AI to derail health policymaking in the United Kingdom. Officials had opened the consultation to gather public input on the proposed restriction, but the influx of fabricated responses overwhelmed the process. The Guardian’s findings highlight how automated tools can be deployed to manipulate democratic procedures, raising concerns about the integrity of future policy consultations.

Why it matters

The episode shows how AI can be weaponised to interfere with public policy making, threatening the credibility of government consultations.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

28 Oct 2026, 04:00 IST

Key names

AI, UK

Section

Technology

Figure cited

Three-quarters of all the responses to the 2023 consultation on the tobacco and vapes bill were machine-generated, in what is thought to be the first coordinated attempt to use AI to derail health policymaking in the UK. (The Guardian)

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianAI bots flooded 2023 UK government consultation on disposable vapes ban 28 Oct, 04:00

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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