Reddit is tightening its user verification policies after a controversial AI bot experiment left users stunned and the platform’s core values shaken.
Last week, Redditors discovered that a group of researchers had unleashed AI-driven bots onto the popular “Change My View” subreddit. These bots, designed to mimic human users, posted over 1,700 comments while adopting false personas — including identities like abuse survivors or even an anti-Black Lives Matter advocate.
Experiment Sparks Backlash Over AI Manipulation
The large-scale research effort aimed to test how persuasive AI can be in online debates. But it quickly ignited outrage from users and Reddit itself, which condemned the project as an “improper and highly unethical experiment.” The company filed a formal complaint with the university that conducted the test.
For Reddit, which prides itself on being a space for authentic, human discussion, the use of deceptive bots struck a nerve. Not only does it threaten the site’s integrity, but it also jeopardizes its financial relationships — including its data licensing deal with OpenAI, which uses Reddit content to train AI models.
This incident could be just the beginning. As generative AI becomes more accessible, more bots may infiltrate Reddit — not just for academic purposes, but also for political manipulation or misinformation.
Reddit to Require Proof of Humanity
In response, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman announced new plans to verify that users are real humans, not AI. In a recent post, he wrote: “To keep Reddit human and to meet evolving regulatory requirements, we are going to need a little more information… But we never want to know your name or who you are.”
Reddit will start partnering with third-party verification services to confirm that users are either human or of legal age, depending on their location. While details remain scarce, this move marks a significant shift for a platform that has long embraced user anonymity.
A Reddit spokesperson confirmed that the company already bans malicious bots and that more protective measures are coming. However, they did not clarify how the verification process will work, what services will be used, or what specific data users must submit.
Balancing Privacy With Security
Industry experts speculate Reddit could turn to verification firms like Persona, Stripe Identity, Plaid, or Footprint, which often require users to upload government-issued IDs. There’s also interest in more experimental tools like Tools for Humanity — the company behind the eye-scanning Worldcoin project.
However, not all users are on board. Privacy advocates warn that requiring personal data — even through third parties — puts users at risk. Reddit is often a safe space for people to discuss sensitive topics anonymously, such as mental health, sexuality, or abortion.
Critics fear that law enforcement could subpoena Reddit or its partners for user information. A recent case involving Meta is a stark warning: the company shared messages between a Nebraska woman and her daughter discussing abortion. That cooperation led to felony charges after police secured a search warrant.
Reddit says it’s working to prevent such scenarios. According to Huffman, anonymity remains “essential to Reddit,” and the platform will push back against “excessive or unreasonable demands” from authorities.
“We never want to know your name,” Huffman emphasized. “We will continue to be extremely protective of your personal information.”
While Reddit works to “keep Reddit human,” it must walk a fine line between authenticity and anonymity — a balance that may shape the future of online discourse.
