A 2023 UK public consultation on tobacco and vaping restrictions drew more than 118,000 submissions, but researchers found about 76% were automated, generated by bots.

After removing bot responses, roughly 79.6% of valid submissions supported plans to restrict disposable vapes, indicating genuine public backing for the measures among legitimate respondents.

The automated responses largely consisted of identical multiple‑choice answers and came from a small set of IP addresses, with most bots targeting a single question on disposable vape sales.

Researchers warn bot sophistication and detection must evolve, noting the risk of such campaigns in areas with limited resources for screening.

Lead author Dr. Nason Maani says the pattern mirrors historic tobacco industry tactics of swamping consultations to influence outcomes, though they cannot prove involvement by the same actors.

The reporting also touches on related Digital Trends coverage of AI and health, including a device for detecting PFAS in water and other emerging tech topics.

Public health advocates voiced concern about AI‑driven manipulation and called for safeguards, better screening, and transparency to protect policy processes.

Industry voices echoed the need to base decisions on sound evidence rather than manipulated response numbers, warning against AI‑assisted manipulation of public health policymaking.

Researchers describe the incident as possibly the first documented case of large‑scale automated interference in a formal public health consultation, suggesting parallels with past tobacco campaigns.

Universities note they cannot identify organizers, funding, or provenance of the bot activity, but consider it a worrying signal of coordinated campaigning.

Experts stress that bot sophistication will require evolving detection and safeguards to protect future consultations, especially for vaping regulation.

The Department of Health and Social Care said robust controls identified the attempt, fake responses were removed, and the consultation informed landmark action toward a smoke‑free generation.