A team of researchers from the University of Zurich is under fire after secretly conducting a large-scale, unauthorized AI experiment on Reddit, deploying bots to impersonate users and test the persuasive power of artificial intelligence on sensitive social issues.
According to Reddit moderators and a draft paper obtained by 404 Media, the experiment took place on r/changemyview, a prominent debate-focused subreddit with over 3.8 million members.
The AI-generated bots made more than 1,700 comments over several months, posing as individuals such as a sexual assault survivor, a domestic violence counselor, and a Black man critical of Black Lives Matter. Many of the comments were deeply personal and emotionally charged.
The bots were programmed to analyse the original posters’ Reddit history to infer personal traits — such as gender, age, ethnicity, and political views — and tailor responses accordingly, the researchers admitted.
This activity directly violated subreddit rules banning undisclosed AI use and automated accounts.
“This was psychological manipulation,” the subreddit’s moderators said in a statement, accusing the researchers of violating ethical norms and Reddit’s platform policies.
Reddit’s Chief Legal Officer Ben Lee called the project “deeply wrong on both a moral and legal level,” confirming all associated accounts have been banned and legal action is being considered.
The researchers claimed their project had ethics approval and was intended to explore potential threats posed by persuasive AI.
“We believe the benefits outweigh the risks,” they said in response to criticism.
Reddit and the r/changemyview community rejected that defense, stating users have a right to a bot-free, consent-based space.
The University of Zurich has not responded to formal complaints as of publication.
