Viking Energy computer generated letters

It is standard practice with controversial planning applications to create a form for supporters or opponents of a project. Some people wonder if planning authorities might treat these pro-forma form letters as bulk submissions, and attach less importance to them than personal letters. Sustainable Shetland have produced such a standard letter of objection. There is also a space for your own personal reasons for objecting. This personal section makes the difference between ticking a box and actually expressing your own views.

In a democracy it is fair and reasonable that everyone, for and against, can express a view.

However, it has come to light that Viking Energy have gone far beyond this. They have decided to use software on their website which automatically generates a letter of support. It may not be illegal, but unethical and underhand it certainly is. It looks like an attempt to mislead the Energy Consents Unit of the Scottish Government into believing these computer generated letters are actually written by the person named at the top.

This computer generated letter contains the persons real name, but then fabricates an entire letter, in such as way as to imply the letter was written by an individual.

How do they work?

A windfarm supporter enters their name and address.

They select from a list of options why they support the windfarm.

By clicking download letter, the software automatically constructs a letter.

so far, so good.

The sneaky bit is that the letter is randomly generated from a pre-defined list:

• computer generated introductory sentences - automatically created from pre-defined lists
• computer generated main paragraphs - automatically created from pre-defined lists.
• computer generated "action" sentence with heartfelt plea for support, automatically created from pre-defined lists.
• computer generated letter end, "Yours truly", "Thank you" "Yours sincerely", all automatically created from pre-defined lists.

Just to add the final touch, the program also automatically randomly selects a typeface for each letter, and a random type size. In a sample of just 12 letters we counted 6 different type faces, and 4 type sizes!

The aim is to try to make sure no two letters look or read alike. The program has the potential to produce thousands of different letters based on selecting just one option!

See what happens when a person selects just one entry.

A letter is produced for a windfarm supporter to email as attachment or post.

Here is an example of identical selections (the jobs option), and 12 different letters they produce. Theoretically, the identical selection could produce thousands of letters which appear genuine and unique. .

How low can Viking go?

The answer seems to be "very low indeed". These computer generated letters work by encouraging a user to select a topic or topics as a reason for supporting the Viking wind farm

To try this for yourself, each time you download the letter, use your browsers back button, select "create letter" and you'll see a different letter created - with zero effort on your part.

There is no excuse or justification for the use of such software unless the intention is to deceive the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit. The practice of changing typeface in the letters and a random selection of opening and closing phrases serves no other purpose than to disguise the fact that it is a computer generated letter.

Someone in Viking Energy must have given permission for this software to be used. The question is who?

It's bad enough when Shetland Charitable Trust use community money to pay for the activities of Viking Energy, it is almost unbelievable when the money is used for such underhand methods as a computer generated letter designed to give the impression it was written by a real person.

It might not be illegal, but it sure does stink! Don't believe it? - See for yourself!