The Guardian · Oct 27, 2026
AI bots swamped UK vape ban consultation with fake responses
Three-quarters of responses to a 2023 UK government consultation on banning disposable vapes were machine-generated in an apparent coordinated effort to stop the policy.
Why it matters: This demonstrates how AI can be weaponized to undermine public health policymaking through mass disinformation campaigns.
Keep in mind: The text reports what occurred but does not establish whether the bot campaign actually influenced policy decisions or outcomes.
AI-assisted summary of the publisher’s feed. News coverage, not an independent study.
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