The traditional open-or-block model for managing bot traffic is failing as AI crawlers grow too sophisticated to block at scale and extract value without compensation. Stack Overflow and Cloudflare have co-launched a pay-per-crawl model using the HTTP 402 status code to create a 'yes, if' framework: bots can access content
•10m read time• From stackoverflow.blog
Table of contents
Why the “open vs. blocked” internet model is failingWhy blocking AI crawlers isn't enoughWhat is pay-per-crawl?Why it matters: the AI data economyBenefits of pay-per-crawl for content owners and organizationsHow a pay-per-crawl model worksFrom binary to business modelFrequently Asked QuestionsSort: