Advocates Call on California Attorney General, LA District Attorney to Investigate AI Astroturf Campaign

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LOS ANGELES — Environmental and public health advocates are calling on California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman to investigate an AI-powered campaign that allegedly submitted public comments attributed to residents without their consent to oppose Southern California clean air standards. The extent of the AI astroturf campaign remains unknown — who funded it, whose identities were used without consent, and whether California law was broken. Watch the press conference recording here.

The call follows a Los Angeles Times investigation exposing how CiviClick, an AI-powered advocacy platform, was used to generate more than 20,000 public comments opposing standards proposed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). When staff at the AQMD followed up with a sample of people to verify comments, at least three said they had not written to the agency or had knowledge of the message.

The incident reflects a growing national threat. CiviClick faces similar allegations tied to gas infrastructure fights in North Carolina, where local officials reported that constituents denied sending messages submitted in their names.

“The use of AI to undermine the public participation process in Southern California is not unique, but part of a new playbook by the fossil fuel industry that we have seen being tested across the country,” said Dylan Plummer, Campaign Advisor for Sierra Club’s Clean Heat Campaign. “California has the chance to draw a line in the sand. We need the California Attorney General and the Los Angeles District Attorney to investigate this brazen attack on our democracy and hold bad actors accountable.”

At the press conference, advocates called for the public to help uncover the extent of the campaign. A new search tool — sourced from public records obtained by the SCAQMD — allows individuals to check whether a comment was submitted in their name, and to report any submissions made without their knowledge or consent.

“Real lives were impacted by the failure to pass these rules. Every day of inaction means community members continue to suffer the health and cost impacts of dirty air. A full investigation from the Attorney General and LA District Attorney is needed for accountability and to determine the next steps to protect the integrity of the public process in California,” said Gracyna Mohabir, Clean Air and Energy Regulatory Advocate at California Environmental Voters.

TheTimes revealed that the campaign was run by public affairs consultant Matt Klink, a partner at California Strategies — one of the state’s most powerful lobbying firms. In Campaigns & Elections magazine, Klink credited the AI platform with making “the ultimate difference” in defeating the standards—the article describes the opposition comments as leaving the board “reeling.” California Strategies’ clients include Sempra, the parent company of Southern California Gas Company, a leading opponent of the clean air standards.

The standards would have reduced smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from gas-powered furnaces and water heaters across Southern California, the most polluted region in the nation. The proposed rule, which was projected to prevent thousands of premature deaths and asthma cases across the region every year, was rejected in June despite thousands of supportive public comments and broad support from environmental, health, environmental justice groups.

“The South Coast region has consistently failed to meet federal and state air quality standards for more than three decades—and last year, we had a real chance to change that,” said Chris Chavez, Deputy Policy Director at the Coalition for Clean Air. “The proposed clean air standards would have cut pollution by ramping up the sale of pollution-free heat pumps, preventing nearly 2,500 premature deaths and 10,000 new asthma cases annually. It’s outrageous that an AI-powered campaign helped defeat these lifesaving rules and deprived Southern Californians of their right to breathe cleaner, healthier air. Residents deserve answers, which is why we are calling for a full investigation into this astroturfing campaign.”

Advocates are calling for a full investigation to uncover the funding behind the AI-driven flood of comments, determine whether identities were used without consent, and assess potential violations of consumer protection, identity fraud, or public participation statutes.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.