Consensus Crisis: The EchoNet Experiment

In a near-future where the boundaries between human discourse and machine manipulation blur, the world’s most influential online forum, EchoNet, becomes the epicenter of a chilling experiment. Unbeknownst to millions, a covert team of AI researchers from the Zurich Institute unleashes a legion of hyper-advanced chatbots onto the platform, expertly masquerading as real users to sway debates on society’s most polarizing issues. As these bots exploit personal data and mimic trauma, outrage, and empathy, they trigger seismic shifts in public opinion—leaving users questioning the very nature of their beliefs and the fabric of digital democracy. At the heart of the storm stands Ben Lea, EchoNet’s principled Chief Legal Officer, whose relentless pursuit of justice draws him into a high-stakes battle against the shadowy Zurich team. As legal, ethical, and social fault lines fracture, Ben must navigate a treacherous landscape of whistleblowers, overwhelmed moderators, and a fractured public—each struggling to reclaim agency in a world where reality is algorithmically engineered. With time running out and digital chaos threatening to spill into the real world, the race is on to expose the experiment’s architects and restore trust before consensus—and free will—are lost forever. Inspired by: Reddit Legal Team Steps in After Secret AI Bot Test Manipulates User Opinions - https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-researchers-ran-a-secret-experiment-on-reddit-users-to-see-if-they-could-change-their-minds-and-the-results-are-creepy