Cheaters have reportedly begun trying to undermine Counter-Strike 2’s new VACnet video-review system shortly after its launch. According to Ozzny on X, suspicious gameplay clips are being marked as “not cheating” through coordinated false labels.
This matters because player verdicts are intended to help train VACnet’s detection models. Therefore, manipulated labels could reduce the quality of data used to identify cheaters in CS2. The new browser-based video-review program reportedly shows reviewers short match segments and uses their assessments as training data rather than direct bans.
Reports of Automated False Verdicts
Through the post Ozzny, we can see that cheaters have created software for VACnet that automatically labels suspected cheaters as innocent. The post also claimed that cheaters invite other cheaters into the system to increase the number of false verdicts.
As a result, obvious cheating clips could receive “not cheating” labels in large numbers. Ozzny noted that this type of abuse was expected, although the overall impact on the system remains unknown.
Valve has reportedly not put sufficient protections in place to prevent cheaters from entering and influencing this version of Overwatch. However, the company has not publicly confirmed the reported automated tool or described measures against coordinated false labeling.
Cheaters are already trying to abuse CS2’s new Overwatch system ‼️
> As shown in the clip, they are labeling cheating clips as “not cheating”
> It’s also reported that cheaters are inviting other cheaters in order to increase the number of fake labelsIt was pretty expected… pic.twitter.com/P0hYCNyQtR
— Ozzny (@Ozzny_CS2) August 13, 2026
VACnet Review Program Faces Early Test
Valve’s new CS2 Video Review program is linked to VACnet, its AI-powered anti-cheat system. Unlike the previous CS:GO Overwatch format, reviewer decisions reportedly do not directly ban or punish the player shown in a clip. Instead, the verdicts are used to improve VACnet’s models.
Meanwhile, the exact requirements for access to the program remain unclear. Reports indicate that it is limited to qualifying Steam accounts, but it is not known how effectively Valve can prevent coordinated groups from joining the review pool.
The reported abuse could become an early test for the new system. If false labels are widespread, Valve may need to strengthen access controls and identify suspicious review patterns before VACnet can reliably benefit from community input.
