New study reveals 75% of respondents to Government's smoking and vaping laws consultation were bots
A study found that 75% of responses to a UK government consultation on smoking and vaping laws were fraudulent bot submissions.Summary
A new study published in Tobacco Control reveals that three out of four responses to a UK government consultation on smoking and vaping laws were submitted by bots. Of the 118,756 submissions, 90,835 (76%) were identified as fraudulent, often duplicated and submitted rapidly from a few IP addresses. All bot-generated responses opposed restrictions on disposable vapes, creating a misleading impression of public opinion. After excluding the fake responses, almost eight in ten valid respondents supported the restrictions. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh believe this is the first documented case of large-scale automated interference in a formal public health consultation. They suggest a coordinated campaign, possibly linked to tobacco industry efforts, but could not confirm responsibility. The British findings echo a similar scandal in the US, where millions of fake responses were submitted during a 2017 internet regulation consultation. The UK government emphasized its robust controls worked effectively and the consultation informed the Tobacco and Vapes Act, which includes a ban on tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, and restrictions on disposable vapes and e-cigarette marketing. Researchers warn that increasing bot sophistication could threaten future public health policymaking integrity.
(Source：GB News)
