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Andrew Pope Independent Network Candidate for Redbridge Ward
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BREAKING: From intelligence given to him by voters when he was canvassing for votes and delivering leaflets to voters in the Redbridge ward election, Candidate Andrew Pope has confirmed that an AI Chatbot has been giving out misleading information about the Southampton City Council elections...
Andrew has reported it to the Returning Officer and to the Electoral Commission, for info and urgent action. He has provided the evidence that he confirmed by checking. And he has informed the Police's Operation Ford.
We urge you to cross-check the information you have received about the election.
Please read our leaflets and letters delivered to your address.
And the information on this website and on our social media. They all contain the truth and an imprint that shows that we are accountable for what we say and print.
The Dola AI chatbot in question is not accountable.
The AI chatbot has made serious errors.
The AI chatbot has no imprint.
There is nobody to complain to at Dola, it seems.
AI chatbots seem to be able to intervene in these elections without any regulation whatsoever.
Andrew says:
"It's very, very concerning. I am furious about this - not just about my election, but also because I am a Computer Scientist and my business PopeyMon is a tech business.
I am a Member of tbe British Computer Society and we have a Code of Conduct. Obviously those responsible don't have standards.
The regulators and authorities are not stopping the AI chatbots from spreading lies about the election. I've asked them to intervene firmly and urgently.
I am working very hard to get elected, and I know from my hard work that many voters are backing me and putting up election posters and boards, but voters are being misled by this so-called "AI".
It has to stop NOW, but postal voters have already cast their ballots with this misleading information out there. It's very worrying."
Contact us if you are not sure, or want to ask questions.
Here is some of the fake news that Andrew found.
For Redbridge ward:
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AI ChatBot Fails to Give Accurate Information on Redbridge 2026 Candidates Image: Southampton Independents (AP) |
AI ChatBot FAIL 1. Andrew Pope's candidacy for the Independent Network is completely missing from the list.
AI ChatBot FAIL 2. In the Redbridge ward that Andrew is standing in, it states that sacked Labour councillor Lee Whitbread is standing.
As reported exclusively by Southampton Independents - weeks before other local media caught up - from information that Andrew obtained from various sources, Lee Whitbread was sacked by Labour.
Another candidate was chosen by Labour, someone with no experience and no name recognition on the doorstep or in the area - again, as confirmed by us. They are not shown on the list.
AI ChatBot FAIL 3. When asked who the candidates are, it displays completely incorrect information and shows photos of some random people from the Internet.
For Bevois ward:
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| AI Chatbot Giving Out Almost Totally Wrong Information on Election Candidates in Southampton City Council elections 2026 Image: Southampton Independents (AP) |
AI Chatbot FAIL 4. Only ONE of the candidates in the Bevois ward is correct. The rest have wrong names, wrong candidates or wrong parties, or candidates are missing.
The AI Chatbot ALMOST COMPLETELY GETS IT WRONG. It is wrong in so many ways as to be totally untrustworthy.
We say again, there are strict laws and regulations around election communications, and so there should be.
Yet somehow an AI chatbot can turn up and put out fake and misleading information just days before the Southampton City Council elections. And the authorities have not stopped it.
We have told the Southampton Returning Officer and the Electoral Commission. And the Police's Operation Ford.
How much will this affect the elections?
We ask people to check the sources of information and to check your sources.
Our website contains quality information and an imprint, as does all of our election material and social media.
We stick to the Independent Network's Martin Bell principles to keep local people informed and look after local people. The big parties look after themselves and Westminster.
The OFFICIAL list of candidates for all wards is published by the Southampton Returning Officer Jillian Kay at Southampton City Council. It is at the link here.
