BusinessJul 17, 2026, 3:21 PM

Patreon stops asking AI bots not to scrape — and starts blocking them

30-second summary

Patreon is partnering with Cloudflare to block AI bots that scrape creators' content without permission, marking a shift away from relying on robots.txt.

TickrWire
Key takeaways
  • Patreon is partnering with Cloudflare to block AI bots that scrape creators' content without permission.
  • Patreon is shifting away from relying on robots.txt to actively block unauthorized AI training.
  • The partnership aims to protect creators' rights and prevent the misuse of their work for AI model training.
Full story

Patreon, a platform for creators to earn money from their work, is taking a more proactive approach to preventing AI scraping. In the past, Patreon relied on websites using robots.txt to block unauthorized AI training. However, this method proved ineffective. To address this issue, Patreon is now working with Cloudflare, a leading cybersecurity company, to block AI bots that scrape creators' content without permission. This move aims to protect creators' rights and prevent the misuse of their work for AI model training.

Patreon's decision to partner with Cloudflare marks a significant shift in its approach to AI scraping. By actively blocking unauthorized AI training, Patreon is setting a precedent for other platforms to follow. This development has important implications for creators, AI developers, and the broader tech industry.

The partnership between Patreon and Cloudflare is a response to the growing concern about AI scraping. As AI models become increasingly sophisticated, the need to protect creators' content from unauthorized use has become more pressing. By working together, Patreon and Cloudflare aim to create a safer and more secure environment for creators to share their work.

The impact of this development extends beyond Patreon's platform. It has the potential to influence the way other platforms approach AI scraping and content protection. As the use of AI models continues to grow, the need for robust defenses against scraping and unauthorized training will become more critical. Patreon's decision to partner with Cloudflare is a step in the right direction, and it will be interesting to see how other platforms respond to this development.

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Why this matters
Developers

This development highlights the need for robust defenses against AI scraping and unauthorized training.

Businesses

Patreon's decision to partner with Cloudflare sets a precedent for other platforms to follow.

Investors

The partnership has implications for the broader tech industry and the growing use of AI models.

Everyone

Patreon is taking a more proactive approach to preventing AI scraping and protecting creators' rights.

Glossary
robots.txt
A file that specifies which parts of a website are accessible to web robots and crawlers.
Sources · 1
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