Nearly half of Dutch MP's have used AI-generated speeches in parliamentary debates

In addition to using AI chatbots for their social media posts, Dutch parliamentarians also regularly turn to Claude and ChatGPT to generate their contributions to parliamentary debates. At least 68 of the 150 MPs have given speeches at the start of the debate that consisted of more than half AI-generated content, according to research by Investico and De Groene Amsterdammer.

The researchers collected all transcripts of speeches delivered during parliamentary debates between January 1 and September 30. It involves the contributions MPs make at the start of the debate, which they prepare in advance. The researchers analyzed the speeches with the AI-detection tool Pangram and only counted it as AI usage if more than half of the contribution was written by a chatbot.

According to Investico, in nearly two-thirds of all debates, at least one MP spoke words written by a chatbot. Nearly 300 contributions were at least half-AI written.

Former PRO MP Esmah Lahlah, now an alderman in Amsterdam, tops the list of frequent users. She used AI-generated text in four out of the five debates in which she participated. PVV MP Rachel van Meetelen is in second place, followed by D66 MP Fatimahzra Belhirch and VVD MP Wendy van Eijk.

The BBB is the faction that has embraced AI most extensively. 30 percent of the right-wing farmers’ party’s speeches were generated by AI. Groep Markuszower, Mona Keijzer, and the VVD follow in second to fourth place. Only the PvdD, SP, and Volt have not used AI at all.

The researchers found that it is primarily the lesser-known and newly elected members of parliament who use AI. Half of those who use it frequently were not in parliament a year ago. Many MPs said that they use AI to shorten their texts.

Some seem to feel guilty about their AI use. CDA MP Harmen Krul told Investico that he uses AI when preparing for debates. “But I would be very troubled if the impression were to take hold that my contributions are generated entirely by a chatbot.”

FvD MP Peter van Duijvenvoorde described his AI use as “embarrassing and dishonorable.” He said he used AI while he was still searching for his own style and voice. “But I’ve drawn a line: this is simply something I no longer do.”

According to Tom Dobber, an assistant professor of Political Communication at the University of Amsterdam, this use of AI is even worse than Prime Minister Rob Jetten using chatbots to write many of his social media posts. “This strikes at the very heart of our democracy,” he told Investico.

Marc van Oostendorp, a professor of Dutch language and communication at Radboud University, agrees with that sentiment. “What is the point if someone in the nation’s legislative chamber is reading out texts that come from a machine?”