rajdeep kumar 1 month ago

rajdeep #MRSinha_ #AskPerplexity #twitter #x #ai

Can AI Block You on Twitter? Understanding AI-Powered Moderation

Can AI Really Block You? The Case of @AskPerplexity and @MRSinha_

Introduction

Recently, Twitter users witnessed an interesting scenario when @MRSinha_ posted a screenshot revealing that his account was blocked by none other than @AskPerplexity, the official account of the AI-powered search engine Perplexity AI. This incident sparked a debate: Can AI-powered accounts block users on their own? Or is there always a human behind the action?

What Happened?

On 29 March 2025, @MRSinha_ shared a post showing that @AskPerplexity had blocked him on Twitter (now X). Many users found this surprising, considering that @AskPerplexity is widely known as an AI-driven platform focused on providing instant and reliable answers, much like ChatGPT.

Since AI bots like Perplexity are generally seen as information tools rather than human-operated accounts, the immediate question was — did the AI block @MRSinha_? Or was there human intervention?

Can AI Accounts Block Users Automatically?

Technically, Twitter (X) allows any account, AI or human, to block another user. However, whether the blocking action was automatic (done by AI) or manual (done by a social media manager or human moderator) remains the real mystery.

Here are the possibilities:

1. Automated Blocking: If Perplexity AI has a moderation system connected to its social media accounts, it could theoretically block accounts based on flagged patterns, offensive mentions, or spam.
2. Human Moderation: Most AI brands on social media have a team managing their profiles. Even if Perplexity uses AI-generated content, blocking decisions might still be manual.
3. Hybrid Model: AI could recommend blocking, but the final decision could still be made by a human.

Why is This Interesting?

This situation opens up broader questions about AI autonomy on social platforms:

• Should AI accounts have the power to block users autonomously?
• How transparent should AI companies be about moderation actions?
• Is it fair for users to be blocked without human review?

As AI integrates deeper into daily online interactions, these questions are becoming more relevant.

Final Thoughts

While it's unclear whether the block by @AskPerplexity was AI-driven or human-decided, the event sheds light on how AI, moderation, and user rights interact on social media platforms. If AI accounts start acting autonomously in public spaces, users and platforms alike will need to adapt to new norms.