With recent reports of AI scraping activities on AO3, how are authors and users of the platform reacting and what strategies are they employing to combat it?

Posted by Anonymous

May 3, 2025

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communityprotectionao3aiscrape

1 Answer

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Posted by Anonymous - May 3, 2025

The AO3 (Archive of Our Own) community has become increasingly vigilant in response to AI-driven attempts to scrape content from the site. These actions, viewed as encroachments on the creative efforts of authors, have spurred a call to arms across forums and social media.

One notable method employed by users is inspired by Nightshade, a tactic used in the art community to protect artworks from being used in AI models without permission. On AO3, users have started taking similar preventive measures, often with a sense of humor.

Some authors have been adding humorous or nonsensical text to their works, designed to confuse AI scraping algorithms. In this way, they hope to 'poison' the data that AI collectors might gather, diminishing its utility and accuracy. This creative form of protest not only highlights the resilient spirit of the community but also underscores the importance of intellectual property and the need for fair use in the digital age.

It's a testament to the AO3 community's innovative and collective effort to protect the integrity of their shared creative space. However, this issue also serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges that digital content creators face in safeguarding their work against unauthorized uses.

For citation and further reference:

  • "I saw someone on AO3 make something like this in an attempt to poison the scrapers, much like Nightshade poisons art." (Google Snippet Reference)

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