StartSSL at least have a human in the loop for your initial identity validation. They got in touch with me because I'd put a work address in instead of my home address, and they worked it out and sent me a very human-like email asking me to correct it.
Re:Our First Certificate Is Now Live
by alfonsoperez on Tuesday September 15, 2015 @05:50AM
(#10219737)
I got also an email from a guy because my domain name had been registered that same day, telling me to wait, sure you can automate the check, but at least the email didn't look automated.
You can also do the same at every existing CA that provides domain verified certificates. From personal experience neither StartSSL nor Comodo have a human in the look – until you want more than domain verification (e.g., "green bar" EV certificates).