City of Bots

Urban planning has moved online, transforming community engagement into a digital process—but this shift has opened the door to disruption. Automated social media accounts, or bots, now infiltrate forums, surveys and virtual meetings, skewing debates and disrupting development projects.

This book investigates the scale and impact of bot interference in US planning, tracing its roots in digital participation and the early use of AI. Through case studies, theoretical insights and the introduction of an Online Conversion Framework, it offers practical strategies for cities to safeguard democratic planning. It is essential reading for urban planners, policy makers and anyone concerned with technology’s influence on civic life.