Artificial‑Intelligence Bots Generate About Three‑Quarters of Responses to UK Smoke‑Free Generation Consultation

Analysis of data released to the public and obtained via freedom‑of‑information requests shows that approximately 75 % of the remarks sent to the United Kingdom's 2023 public consultation on a smoke‑free generation and stricter regulation of disposable e‑cigarettes were produced by AI bots rather than by individual members of the public.

The Department of Health and Social Care launched the consultation to gather views on proposals that would ban the sale of combustible cigarettes to anyone born after a specified year and to rein in the rapid expansion of disposable vaping devices. The call attracted thousands of submissions, which officials initially read as a sign of robust public interest in the health‑centric proposals.

Those who inspected the raw submission files spotted hallmarks of automated text creation: recurring phrasing, uniform sentence constructions across many entries, and timestamps that fell within seconds of one another. By matching IP‑address logs and applying language‑model detection software, they concluded that roughly three‑quarters of the contributions were not written by humans.

The finding has ignited discussion about the trustworthiness of online consultations as a measure of public sentiment. Some critics warn that AI‑generated input could distort policy outcomes, while certain digital‑rights groups caution that sweeping prohibitions on automated entries might silence legitimate, technologically adept participants.

Officials have not yet explained how the artificial submissions will be factored into the final tally, though a department spokesperson noted that the consultation includes “robust verification steps” and that the results will be considered during the drafting of legislation.

Specialists say the incident highlights the necessity for refreshed rules on digital participation, such as stronger authentication procedures and openness about AI's role in public dialogue. As lawmakers work toward finalising the smoke‑free generation plan, the episode could trigger a wider reassessment of how governments gather and assess citizen feedback in an increasingly automated online world.