Reddit Targets AI Bots With New Human Verification Checks

Reddit is rolling out new “human verification” checks aimed at accounts that look automated, while also labeling service-style automated accounts with an “APP” tag. It won’t apply sitewide. The company says verification will trigger only when activity patterns or technical signals suggest a bot, such as unusually fast posting. Accounts that fail may face restrictions. Reddit plans to use third-party options including passkeys from Apple, Google, and YubiKey, biometric tools like Face ID, and World ID, and in some regions government IDs due to age-verification rules. CEO Steve Huffman said Reddit wants proof of a person, not their identity, to keep anonymity intact. Reddit also removes about 100,000 bot or spam accounts daily.