Reddit blocks Internet Archive to end sneaky AI scraping

Reddit has blocked the Internet Archive's bot from accessing its website, aiming to prevent the organization from scraping and archiving Reddit posts. The Internet Archive, a non-profit digital library, has been engaged in ongoing discussions with Reddit about this issue. The archive claims that it has been archiving Reddit content for years, but Reddit's latest action indicates its intention to limit the availability of its data. This move by Reddit is seen as an effort to curb the use of its content by AI systems, which have been utilizing the platform's data for training and development. The Internet Archive maintains that its archiving efforts are crucial for preserving online content and ensuring its long-term accessibility. However, Reddit's decision to block the archive's bot suggests that the platform is prioritizing control over its data and limiting its use by external parties, including AI researchers and developers.