Techdirt

37,000 Fake AI Comments Mysteriously Oppose Washington State’s Effort To Tax The Rich

Washington State opened a public comment period for a proposed millionaire tax, only to see more than 37,000 AI‑generated submissions opposing the measure. The fake entries duplicated names dozens of times, often posted late at night, inflating the appearance of widespread resistance. Lawmakers cited the volume as evidence of public opposition, while critics flagged the comments as clearly automated. The episode underscores how AI tools can weaponize regulatory comment systems to distort policy debates.