EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: Democracy Under Threat - Electoral Commission and The Times Newspaper Confirm AI Chatbots Conning Voters in England AND Scotland

 

Andrew Pope

Campaigner Andrew Pope says: 

"At the beginning of this month, before the local elections and Parliamentary elections in Scotland and Wales, I investigated and reported on an AI chatbot called DOLA AI giving out misleading information in relation to my election in Redbridge ward, Southampton.

I gave my investigation to a freelancer journalist working for The Sunday Times.

And I contacted the Electoral Commission. Their full response is below.

Today, over a fortnight after the elections in England, Scotland and Wales, The Times is reporting that AI chatbots were misleading voters in Scotland.

My investigation showed it happening in Southampton, here in England. Like I said to the journalist weeks ago, I had no doubt that it was not just in Southampton. To say again, this was BEFORE the elections.

And I have had it confirmed in writing directly to me by the Electoral Commission that the AI chatbots misleading voters is not just limited to here in Southampton.

It is a national scandal of misinformation of voters that could have led to changes in outcomes to elections across the whole of the UK.

The Electoral Commission told me they are "aware" but what did they do about it? I did not see any evidence of action.

Our democracy is under threat from tyrannical leaders in the USA, China and Russia. 

And now, state actors and other malign actors are using AI chatbots to undermine democracy even more.

During the recent local elections, I uncovered election malpractice that was denied by Council staff and of which the Labour candidate in Redbridge saw no wrong, despite votes being in piles instead of in singles and folded, right before his eyes. 

The Police investigated and said that "no offence" occurred, as reported by the Daily Echo. Obviously I would not have reported it, if I did not experience it for myself and with my team at the count.

I have proved yet again that it takes independents and the Independent Network to call this out - the big political parties cannot be trusted.  

The UK Parliament needs to act to protect our democracy, and it needs to do it now. But the vast majority of the Members of Parliament are from the very corrupt parties that have led us to this. We are in big trouble."

 

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission said:

"Further to your recent email about DOLA AI and the information that it provided in the run up to the recent local elections.  I have forwarded your concerns to the team reviewing AI deepfakes for their consideration.

They have advised that they are aware of previous instances where AI chatbots have generated false or inaccurate information relating to elections, and we fully recognise the potential for such outputs to mislead voters and undermine confidence.

 

The Electoral Commission has taken this into consideration, and we always remind voters to engage carefully with online material. You can find more about what we are doing in this space here: Engaging with campaign material at elections | Electoral Commission?"

 

 

EXCLUSIVE INVESTIGATION: AI Chatbot Conning Voters - Andrew Pope Uncovers Evidence of Misleading Southampton Election Information by an AI Chatbot

 

Andrew Pope Independent Network Candidate for Redbridge Ward

 

 

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: 

 

AI ChatBot Fails to Give Accurate Information on Redbridge 2026 Candidates
for Southampton City Council

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:  

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.