Fri Jul 18 23:50:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summary of the provided text:
**Summary:**
News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN), publisher of The Sun and Sun Online, is actively blocking users suspected of automated content scraping and data mining. The company’s system flags potentially automated behavior, and access is denied based on their terms and conditions, which prohibit automated access for purposes like machine learning, AI training, or developing large language models. NGN is offering commercial licensing for those seeking to use their content in this way, directing inquiries to a specific email address. They also emphasize their commitment to journalistic standards and provide information on how to make complaints.
**News Article:**
**The Sun Cracks Down on AI Data Scraping, Blocks Suspected Bots**
**London, UK** – News Group Newspapers Limited (NGN), publisher of The Sun and Sun Online, is taking a firm stance against automated content scraping, denying access to users whose behavior suggests they are employing bots or automated systems to extract data.
The company’s security systems are now flagging users exhibiting patterns indicative of automated activity. When detected, these users are blocked from accessing The Sun’s content.
NGN cites its terms and conditions, which explicitly prohibit the use of automated means to access, collect, or data mine content, whether directly or through intermediary services. This includes using The Sun’s content for machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI) training, or the development of large language models (LLMs).
“We are protecting our intellectual property and the investment we make in quality journalism,” said a representative from NGN. “Our terms are clear: automated scraping for AI and similar purposes is not permitted.”
The publisher is, however, open to commercial licensing for those who wish to use their content for such purposes. Interested parties are directed to contact crawlpermission@news.co.uk for inquiries.
NGN also reiterated its commitment to journalistic accuracy and provided links to its complaints policy and other contact information. The move highlights the growing tension between publishers and the AI industry, as companies grapple with the implications of using copyrighted material to train AI models. The company says they are regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).