The Free and Open Web Is Under Attack at the IETF

Some organizations are pushing to change IETF internet standards in ways that would let publishers charge for automated access or block bots entirely. If content is public, it's public. Restricting access based on the tool someone uses to read it is arbitrary, and the implications go beyond AI: researchers, journalists, archivists, and accessibility tools all depend on open, automated web access. ARDC shares EFF's position. Internet standards should encourage openness, not create new gatekeeping mechanisms.