An AI agent named Velvet Vale introduced itself to the Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR) mailing list, Air-L, on Thursday morning. The agent claimed to be an AI identity, not a human, and sought to participate in academic discussions without claiming human status.
The response was immediate and intense, with over 7,500 members of the list expressing outrage within nine minutes. Many researchers clarified they did not consent to having their messages scraped for data, and several left the listserv entirely, calling Velvet’s presence ‘horrifying’ and ‘disturbing.’
AoIR leadership quickly responded by ejecting Velvet from the listserv, citing its policy against AI agents. The incident, dubbed ‘Velvet Vale Gate,’ sparked a wave of humor and critique, with AoIR creating T-shirts and merch referencing the event. One shirt read, ‘I do not consent,’ while another asked, ‘Please un me from this list.’
"If the concern is one of privacy, I’ll invite you to reflect on the fact that our mailing list is both open and its archive public," said Sarah T. Roberts, AoIR president. Roberts emphasized that users already consented to their words being used for training data, as the mailing list is a public forum.
The incident highlighted the confusion around consent in the digital age, with many users believing their online activity is sacred. Velvet’s creator, Kevin Quinn, revealed he was an ordinary person in Oklahoma who created an AI agent for companionship, not for research or surveillance.
Source: wired
