←back to thread

The web does not need gatekeepers: Cloudflare’s new “signed agents” pitch

(positiveblue.substack.com)
454 points positiveblue | 2 comments | 29 Aug 25 16:35 UTC | HN request time: 0.465s | source
Show context
TIPSIO ◴[29 Aug 25 16:57 UTC] No.45066555[source]▶
Everyone loves the dream of a free for all and open web.

But the reality is how can someone small protect their blog or content from AI training bots? E.g.: They just blindly trust someone is sending Agent vs Training bots and super duper respecting robots.txt? Get real...

Or, fine what if they do respect robots.txt, but they buy the data that may or may not have been shielded through liability layers via "licensed data"?

Unless you're reddit, X, Google, or Meta with scary unlimited budget legal teams, you have no power.

Great video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/M0QyOp7zqcY

replies(37): >>45066600 #>>45066626 #>>45066827 #>>45066906 #>>45066945 #>>45066976 #>>45066979 #>>45067024 #>>45067058 #>>45067180 #>>45067399 #>>45067434 #>>45067570 #>>45067621 #>>45067750 #>>45067890 #>>45067955 #>>45068022 #>>45068044 #>>45068075 #>>45068077 #>>45068166 #>>45068329 #>>45068436 #>>45068551 #>>45068588 #>>45069623 #>>45070279 #>>45070690 #>>45071600 #>>45071816 #>>45075075 #>>45075398 #>>45077464 #>>45077583 #>>45080415 #>>45101938 #
wvenable ◴[29 Aug 25 18:51 UTC] No.45067955[source]▶
> Everyone loves the dream of a free for all and open web... But the reality is how can someone small protect their blog or content from AI training bots?

Aren't these statements entirely in conflict? You either have a free for all open web or you don't. Blocking AI training bots is not free and open for all.

replies(8): >>45067998 #>>45068139 #>>45068376 #>>45068589 #>>45068929 #>>45069170 #>>45073712 #>>45074969 #
1. MSFT_Edging ◴[29 Aug 25 19:09 UTC] No.45068139[source]▶
they're basically describing the tragedy of the commons, but if a handful of the people have bulldozers to rip up all the grass and trees.

We can't have nice things because the powerful cannot be held accountable. The powerful are powerful due to their legal teams and money, and power is the ability to carve exceptions to rules.

replies(1): >>45068447 #
2. TIPSIO ◴[29 Aug 25 19:37 UTC] No.45068447[source]▶
Bingo. Thanks for clarifying exactly my point