AI-Generated Submissions Cite Nonexistent Sources
An anti-renewables conservation charity has reportedly submitted documents to federal and state inquiries containing references to nonexistent government authorities, a fictional windfarm, and scientific articles that the supposed publisher says don’t exist, according to a Guardian Australia investigation. Sources indicate that Rainforest Reserves Australia (RRA), which has gained prominence opposing windfarm projects in north Queensland, made multiple submissions with fabricated citations and references.
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The organization’s submission writer, Anne S Smith, has acknowledged using artificial intelligence to help write more than 100 submissions to councils and state and federal governments since August 2024. Analysts suggest this case highlights growing concerns about the use of AI in policy advocacy and the potential for misinformation to influence decision-making processes.
Experts Say Their Work Was Misrepresented
According to reports, RRA’s submission to the Senate inquiry on misinformation and disinformation in climate change and energy debates cited the work of two prominent U.S. academics in ways they described as “100% misleading” and “absurd.”
Professor Naomi Oreskes, a Harvard science historian and co-author of “Merchants of Doubt,” stated that her work was cited in a manner that completely misrepresented its content. “Merchants of Doubt does not support that claim,” Oreskes said, noting that “net zero” was not discussed in her book. Similarly, Professor Bob Brulle of Brown University said citations of his work were “totally misleading” and did not address the issues discussed in RRA’s submission.
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Nonexistent Research and Government Agencies
The investigation reportedly found that RRA submissions referenced two papers from the Journal of Cleaner Production that do not exist. A spokesperson for the journal’s publisher, Elsevier, stated that “these references appear to be hallucinated and do not exist – we have not found any articles with those titles published in Elsevier journals.”
Additional submissions published on RRA’s website referenced the “Queensland Environmental Protection Agency,” which hasn’t existed since 2009, along with other nonexistent government bodies including the “Australian Regional Planning Commission” and “Queensland Planning Authority.” One submission also cited a contamination report from the “Oakey Wind Farm” – despite no such wind farm existing in Oakey, Queensland.
AI Detection and Response
Dr. Aaron Snoswell, a senior research fellow in AI accountability at Queensland University of Technology’s GenAI Lab, analyzed samples of the submissions using AI detection platforms. “Looking at some of these documents, there were large portions of text that the platforms were very confident were AI generated,” he said, noting that inconsistent references represent “a classic mistake that’s made by AI systems.”
When questioned by Guardian Australia, Smith acknowledged using AI to help write her 1,500-word response, stating it was “the most efficient way to review everything properly and provide you with an accurate and timely response.” She maintained that all information and conclusions were hers and that the AI tool simply helped her “work through the material quickly.”
Broader Implications for Policy Process
Cam Walker, campaigns coordinator at Friends of the Earth Australia, reviewed the RRA submissions and said they contained “fabrications that corrupt the evidence base that decision-makers and communities rely on.” He expressed concern that such submissions “poison the well for legitimate environmental concerns” about renewable energy planning.
The case emerges amid broader discussions about artificial intelligence applications in various sectors and growing concerns about cybersecurity threats affecting digital infrastructure, including recent technology vulnerabilities.
RRA has gained influence in conservative circles, with Nationals leader David Littleproud recently celebrating RRA analysis on renewable energy installations. The organization also coordinated an open letter criticizing the government’s renewable energy focus, signed by notable figures including energy entrepreneur Trevor St Baker, Dick Smith, Indigenous advocate Warren Mundine, and nuclear energy advocates.
The organization has also made submissions to a Senate inquiry into PFAS chemicals and a NSW parliamentary inquiry on PFAS in waterways, claiming without evidence that solar panels and wind turbines release “forever chemicals” into the environment.
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