Reddit details its measures for the U.S. elections

Reddit announced on October 13 that u/UpTheVote is returning as an on-platform resource with information about the U.S. midterm elections. The company says it will provide updates and guidance from nonpartisan officials and experts. Reddit introduced the resource and its election measures.

Moderation and detection of inauthentic activity

The company combines several layers of moderation. Its safety teams enforce the sitewide rules; volunteer moderators manage their communities, which can set their own rules; and users can report posts and express preferences through upvotes or downvotes.

Reddit attributes a 20% reduction in users’ exposure to spam and inauthentic content to its detection models. It also says it revokes nearly two million fake upvotes a day. Reddit’s post describes the measures and figures.

Rules for AI-generated content

AI-generated content is allowed if it complies with community rules and site policies. Reddit prohibits content created to deliberately mislead people about real-world facts or real people, whether it is generated with AI or by other means.

For AI posts that are allowed, the company recommends indicating that they were generated or modified with the technology, for example, by adding a textual disclosure. In this case, identification is a recommendation, unlike the mandatory labeling Reddit requires for ads containing AI-generated content. Reddit outlines its criteria for AI content in its election announcement.

Requirements for political ads

The political ads policy is unchanged: Reddit accepts them only in the United States and at the federal level. Advertisers must register, and ads undergo human review.

Before placing ads, the candidate or another official campaign representative must participate in an AMA, a question-and-answer session with the community. Political ads containing AI-generated material must be labeled. The announcement lists the current requirements for political ads.