Businessman Pleads Guilty to Using AI-Generated Letters to Shut Down London Nightclub

A London businessman, Aldo d’Aponte, has pleaded guilty to making false statements in an attempt to shut down a popular LGBTQ nightclub, Heaven, in central London. The false statements, which were generated using artificial intelligence, were made in the form of letters supposedly written by d’Aponte’s neighbours, objecting to the reopening of the nightclub.

The nightclub had temporarily closed after a 19-year-old woman accused one of its security guards of rape. Although the guard was later found not guilty, the incident led to the suspension of the club’s licence. The licence was reinstated after a council hearing, during which the club agreed to implement enhanced welfare and security policies.

However, during the hearing, council officials received several letters, sent via an encrypted email address, detailing complaints about the nightclub. Philip Kolvin KC, a planning lawyer who was acting for the nightclub, became suspicious of the letters and decided to investigate them further. When the letters were put through an AI detection generator, they were identified as almost certainly written using artificial intelligence.

Investigation and Charges

Kolvin’s research found that the people who had apparently written the complaints did not appear to exist, or at least did not live at the addresses they listed as their own. Police traced the IP addresses linked to two of the letters to d’Aponte, who was subsequently charged with making false statements.

d’Aponte pleaded guilty under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, which makes it an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application for the grant, variation, transfer or review of a premises licence or club premises certificate. He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.

The use of AI to generate false complaints is a growing issue, according to a Metropolitan police source. The police are currently exploring two further live cases regarding false representations written by AI.

d’Aponte’s lawyer, Saba Naqshbandi KC, described the incident as a “foolish and desperate act” and said that her client had been suffering from the noise and disturbance caused by the nightclub for several years. d’Aponte himself said that he deeply regretted his actions and reiterated his frustration with what he perceived to be the “nuisance” caused by the nightclub.