Bill to Stop AI Bots from Flooding Public Comment Moves Forward

Senate Bill 1159 authored by Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Yolo), passed the Privacy, Digital Technologies & Consumer Protection Committee yesterday with unanimous and bipartisan support. The bill ensures the voices of real people are heard in government and not drowned out by AI.

Recent media reports have indicated that in the past few months, PR firms have successfully used software to overwhelm government inboxes and public comment with thousands of emails at a time, swaying important votes. In some cases, these fake emails even used the names of real residents.

“Using AI to flood the zone has become a legitimate threat to democratic discourse. SB 1159 makes sure the voices of real Californians are heard over special interest groups armed with expensive bot armies,” said Senator Christopher Cabaldon, “Public comment is not for sale in California.” 

As technology advances, government bodies need to rethink civic engagement. By clearly defining what a member of the public is, SB 1159 will preserve the integrity of California’s democratic process, making sure lawmakers remain responsive to the people of California, not automated intelligence systems. 

 SB 1159 is supported by a broad coalition including the League of CA Cities and the California State Association of Counties, environmental groups like the NRDC and the Sierra Club, the California Federation of Teachers, and the California Association of Nonprofits, to name a few.