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Reddit Explores Face ID, Touch ID and Passkeys to Curb Bots While Preserving Anonymity

Executives say the aim is to verify humans without collecting identities.

Overview

  • CEO Steve Huffman told the TBPN podcast that Reddit is evaluating "lightweight" checks such as Face ID, Touch ID and passkeys to prove a real person is present.
  • The company is also considering decentralized or third‑party attestations alongside more burdensome ID‑checking services.
  • Huffman emphasized Reddit's promise to keep users anonymous, saying the goal is to know an account is run by a person without knowing who that person is.
  • No verification approach has been selected, with leadership describing the process as an ongoing evolution to find a workable middle ground.
  • Co‑founder Alexis Ohanian questioned how face‑scanning would be accepted by users even as he agreed that action against bots is necessary.