17 days ago
- Scraper attacks from AI bot networks using residential proxies are overwhelming websites, creating excessive traffic by using millions of compromised devices, often without the owner's knowledge.
- Companies like Bright Data and others offer 'ethical' residential-proxy networks, exploiting free VPNs or SDKs to turn users' devices into endpoints for scraping.
- The scraping is believed to be fueled by a growing demand for training data for AI models, driven by various entities including corporations and government agencies.
- Websites are implementing defensive measures such as proof-of-work systems like Anubis, captchas, paywalls, and login gates to mitigate scraper impacts.
- LWN has adopted site optimizations and selective access controls to protect its site while minimizing disruption to legitimate users and search engines.
- Recent takedowns of networks like IPIDEA and NetNut have temporarily reduced attacks, but the problem persists, indicating the need for more lasting solutions.
- There is concern that the ongoing scraping threatens the open internet and may push more content behind restrictive barriers, compromising its creative potential.