Legislatures brace for onslaught of AI-generated comments
A campaign against Washington state’s ‘millionaires tax’ appears to be the first driven by an artificial intelligence-backed system.
Reid Wilson
06:00 AM, Mar 19, 2026
The interior of the Washington state Capitol is seen Friday, April 25, 2025, in Olympia, Wash. (AP Photo/Maddy Grassy)
Washington state lawmakers were deluged last month with tens of thousands of comments submitted through the legislature’s official online portal in opposition to a proposal to raise taxes on millionaires.
Some of the names of opponents who allegedly registered their opposition before a hearing of the House Finance Committee took legislators by surprise: Dozens of leaders of three unions backing the proposal. A former Democratic member of Congress who now lives across the country. And a state senator, whose name appeared twice and who said someone had signed her name without consent.
Legislatures brace for onslaught of AI-generated comments
A campaign against Washington state’s ‘millionaires tax’ appears to be the first driven by an artificial intelligence-backed system.
Reid Wilson
06:00 AM, Mar 19, 2026
Washington state lawmakers were deluged last month with tens of thousands of comments submitted through the legislature’s official online portal in opposition to a proposal to raise taxes on millionaires.
Some of the names of opponents who allegedly registered their opposition before a hearing of the House Finance Committee took legislators by surprise: Dozens of leaders of three unions backing the proposal. A former Democratic member of Congress who now lives across the country. And a state senator, whose name appeared twice and who said someone had signed her name without consent.
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