Online Media Brands Hope a New Protocol Will Stop Unwanted AI Crawlers

A new licensing protocol has been developed by online media brands to address the issue of unwanted AI crawlers accessing their content. The protocol aims to provide clear guidelines for AI companies, ensuring they understand the rules for accessing and using the media content. The protocol, known as the Digital Vendor Consent Standard, was created by a coalition of media companies, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. It is designed to give media outlets more control over how their content is used by AI systems. The protocol requires AI companies to obtain explicit permission before accessing and using media content. This includes providing information about how the content will be used and agreeing to certain restrictions, such as not using the content for commercial purposes without the media outlet's consent. The goal of the protocol is to strike a balance between the needs of media companies and the benefits of AI technology. By establishing clear rules and expectations, the hope is that it will lead to more transparent and responsible use of media content by AI systems.