AI Agents Unmask Anonymous Users for Under $5

Researchers from ETH Zurich and Anthropic have shown that AI agents can unmask anonymous online identities with high accuracy ^[1][2]. The system analyzes unstructured posts on platforms like Reddit and Hacker News to link them to real-world individuals ^[2]. This process is surprisingly affordable, costing as little as $1 to $4 per profile ^[1][3]. The AI extracts biographical and behavioral clues from text to build a specific user profile ^[2]. These agents can identify users at scale, posing a significant risk to digital privacy ^[3]. Experts warn that this capability allows for mass de-anonymization in just minutes ^[2].