Nearly half of Dutch MPs use AI to write speeches in parliament

Nearly half of Dutch MPs used artificial intelligence to help write speeches and statements delivered in parliament, according to an investigation based on the AI detection tool Pangram.

A scan of debates and committee hearings revealed that 68 of the 150 MPs from across the political spectrum used AI at least once. Most of the members admitted using artificial intelligence tools when asked by De Groene Amsterdammer and investigations website Investico.

The real number is likely to be higher because only contributions that were found to be more than 50% AI generated were included in the results.

Top of the list was former Pro MP Esmah Lahlah, who is now a member of Amsterdam city council’s executive after leaving parliament in June. The analysis found evidence of AI in her contributions to four debates on poverty and the law on jobseekers.

Lahlah said she sometimes used AI to summarise conversations she had with people during working visits. “Sometimes it was hard to condense those stories into a few minutes’ speaking time, so I used AI,” she said.

Most MPs wrote their own material for big set-piece debates such as the recent debate on the king’s speech, known as the Algemene Politieke Beschouwingen, which kicks off the parliamentary year. But more than half of contributions to committee hearings showed evidence of AI use, the analysis found.

“Rolled out by Chat”

Other frequent users included Rachel van Meetelen of the far-right PVV, who said she used it to make her statements more concise and effective. “I would never say anything in Parliament I didn’t support,” she said.

The heaviest users were right-wing parties such as Gidi Markuszower’s DNA group of former PVV MPs. Only the Socialists (SP), the animal rights party PvdD and Volt showed no use of AI at all.

Harmen Krul of the centre-right CDA also said he used AI to edit his speeches, but not generate content. “I would be dismayed if this created the impression that my contributions were rolled out by Chat,” he said.

Last month an analysis of 28,000 questions in parliament by national broadcaster NOS, again using Pangram, found that around a quarter showed stylistic features of AI.

Prime minister Rob Jetten also had to admit that he used AI to write social media posts, including personal reflections on sensitive subjects such as the mistreatment of Moluccan war veterans who came to the Netherlands in the 1950s.

He defended the practice at the time, saying: “Like three-quarters of Dutch people I sometimes use AI to make things better.”

Some MPs also dismissed the concerns raised by the latest analysis. Henk Vermeer, leader of the farmers’ party BBB, said AI was useful for small parties, after Pangram detected traces in 30% of speeches by his three MPs. “We also use calculators, mobile phones and even coffee makers,” he said.