Swiss University Covertly Conducted AI Experiment Aimed at Influencing Minds
Reddit is contemplating legal action against the University of Zurich for its secretive experiment involving chatbots aimed at influencing users' opinions on controversial topics. The University of Zurich has faced criticism for conducting...
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Reddit is contemplating legal action against the University of Zurich for its secretive experiment involving chatbots aimed at influencing users' opinions on controversial topics.
The University of Zurich has faced criticism for conducting an unauthorized study with users of Reddit, a major social media platform, to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in swaying public opinion. As a result, Reddit indicated it may pursue legal measures.
According to various media reports, researchers at the University engaged in a study within r/ChangeMyView, one of Reddit’s largest debate communities, in recent months. This experiment employed AI chatbots, which posed as regular users to engage in discussions about sensitive issues.
These bots, whose accounts have since been banned, managed to post over 1,700 comments throughout the subreddit. They adopted fictitious identities, including a male rape victim who minimized the impact of his assault, a Black individual against the Black Lives Matter movement, and a domestic trauma counselor asserting that the most vulnerable women were those “sheltered by overprotective parents.”
One of the bots also analyzed user profiles to provide tailored arguments during the interactions.
The researchers informed subreddit moderators of the experiment several months after it occurred, referring to this as “a disclosure step in the study.”
In a statement released last week, Reddit’s moderation team emphasized that the platform strictly prohibits the use of undisclosed AI-generated content or bots. Reddit’s chief legal officer, Ben Lee, noted that neither the company nor the r/ChangeMyView moderators were aware of the experiment, labeling it as “improper and highly unethical.” He also mentioned that Reddit is preparing official legal demands to be sent to the University of Zurich and the involved researchers.
The researchers maintained that their study adhered to principles of “ethical” research and transparency, with the university's ethics committee asserting that the research had caused minimal harm. Nonetheless, users on the subreddit expressed shock and outrage at being unwittingly subjected to experimentation.
The journal Science reported that, according to an emailed statement from the university, the researchers decided against publishing the results of the study. The university has announced plans to investigate the incident.
The practice of using AI bots—fake accounts designed to replicate real users—has been on the rise across social media platforms in recent years. Experts indicate that these bots are increasingly employed to influence public opinion, particularly during election cycles.
Western governments, especially those in the US and the UK, have long accused Russia of operating large-scale "bot farms" aimed at meddling in their electoral processes, a claim that Moscow has consistently denied. However, some Western entities have also faced scrutiny for utilizing bots in disinformation efforts while publicly decrying foreign interference.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
The University of Zurich has faced criticism for conducting an unauthorized study with users of Reddit, a major social media platform, to explore the potential of artificial intelligence in swaying public opinion. As a result, Reddit indicated it may pursue legal measures.
According to various media reports, researchers at the University engaged in a study within r/ChangeMyView, one of Reddit’s largest debate communities, in recent months. This experiment employed AI chatbots, which posed as regular users to engage in discussions about sensitive issues.
These bots, whose accounts have since been banned, managed to post over 1,700 comments throughout the subreddit. They adopted fictitious identities, including a male rape victim who minimized the impact of his assault, a Black individual against the Black Lives Matter movement, and a domestic trauma counselor asserting that the most vulnerable women were those “sheltered by overprotective parents.”
One of the bots also analyzed user profiles to provide tailored arguments during the interactions.
The researchers informed subreddit moderators of the experiment several months after it occurred, referring to this as “a disclosure step in the study.”
In a statement released last week, Reddit’s moderation team emphasized that the platform strictly prohibits the use of undisclosed AI-generated content or bots. Reddit’s chief legal officer, Ben Lee, noted that neither the company nor the r/ChangeMyView moderators were aware of the experiment, labeling it as “improper and highly unethical.” He also mentioned that Reddit is preparing official legal demands to be sent to the University of Zurich and the involved researchers.
The researchers maintained that their study adhered to principles of “ethical” research and transparency, with the university's ethics committee asserting that the research had caused minimal harm. Nonetheless, users on the subreddit expressed shock and outrage at being unwittingly subjected to experimentation.
The journal Science reported that, according to an emailed statement from the university, the researchers decided against publishing the results of the study. The university has announced plans to investigate the incident.
The practice of using AI bots—fake accounts designed to replicate real users—has been on the rise across social media platforms in recent years. Experts indicate that these bots are increasingly employed to influence public opinion, particularly during election cycles.
Western governments, especially those in the US and the UK, have long accused Russia of operating large-scale "bot farms" aimed at meddling in their electoral processes, a claim that Moscow has consistently denied. However, some Western entities have also faced scrutiny for utilizing bots in disinformation efforts while publicly decrying foreign interference.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
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