Reddit Launches AI Moderation Tools and Restricts Legacy Interface

Reddit Inc. is implementing a series of technical changes to modernize platform moderation and protect its data from commercial scraping. The company is rolling out Rules Hub, an AI-powered moderation system built on large language models that allows volunteer moderators to enforce community rules using plain prose rather than keyword matching. After testing with the Mod Council Network and 700 communities, the tool is now available for all new communities, with a full site-wide rollout expected later in 2026.

To combat spam and unauthorized automated data collection, the company is restricting the legacy Old Reddit interface to logged-in users. This move follows legal actions against AI firms such as Anthropic and Perplexity for using site data without payment. Additionally, Reddit is limiting new API access requests and requiring third-party applications to migrate to its proprietary Reddit Developer Platform, supported by a $1,000,000 migration program.

CEO Steve Huffman characterized the legacy Automoderator system as brittle and difficult to maintain. He stated that the company is weighing several options for the future of the classic interface, including limiting access, migrating critical uses, or rebuilding the experience on a modern tech stack.