SUMMARY
Patreon has implemented network-level blocking with Cloudflare to prevent AI bots from scraping creator content for model training. While this is a step towards protecting creators, it is unlikely to be a comprehensive solution. Much of the data used for AI training has already been harvested from platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, which are owned by major AI companies. Furthermore, AI agents that mimic human browsing behavior are difficult to block without affecting legitimate users, and existing trained models cannot be undone. Despite these limitations, Patreon's action sets a precedent against unauthorized scraping.
TAKEAWAYS
Patreon is blocking AI training bots at the network level.
Most AI training data is already harvested from major platforms.
New AI methods can mimic human users, making them hard to block.
Patreon's move establishes a stance against unauthorized scraping.