AI-Generated Submissions Make Up 75% of Responses to UK Smoke‑Free Generation Consultation

An analysis of data released to the public and obtained via freedom‑of-information requests shows that about 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 artificial‑intelligence bots instead of real people.

Initiated by the Department of Health and Social Care, the consultation asked for views on plans to ban the sale of combustible cigarettes to anyone born after a specific year and to restrain the fast‑expanding market for disposable vaping devices. It drew thousands of replies, a number that officials first read as a sign of robust public support for the health‑centric proposals.

Analysts reviewing the original response files spotted hallmarks of automated writing: 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 submissions were not written by humans.

This finding has ignited discussion about the trustworthiness of online consultations as measures of public sentiment. Detractors contend that AI‑produced input could distort policy outcomes, whereas certain digital‑rights supporters caution that sweeping prohibitions on automated entries might stifle genuine, technology‑savvy contributions.

Officials have not revealed how the synthetic responses will be factored into the ultimate analysis, but a department spokesperson noted that the consultation incorporates “robust verification steps” and that the results will be considered during the legislative drafting stage.

Specialists say the incident highlights the necessity for refreshed rules on digital participation, such as more explicit authentication methods and openness regarding AI’s role in public debate. As lawmakers advance toward finalising the smoke‑free generation plan, the case could trigger a wider reassessment of how governments gather and assess citizen feedback in an ever‑more automated internet landscape.