Is web scraping legal? Yes, if you know the rules.

Web scraping is legal but it has certain boundaries, such as personal data and intellectual property regulations. There are misconceptions about web scraping being illegal or hacking, but these are not true. It's important to scrape personal data ethically and be aware of regulations like GDPR and CCPA. Web scraping copyrighted content is generally not permitted, except for certain purposes like text and data mining. Terms of Use can restrict scraping, but their enforceability depends on how they are presented to the user. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) in the US may impose criminal liability for unauthorized access. Social media platforms are actively fighting against web scraping.