Wikipedia Tells AI Firms to Stop Scraping and Use Paid API

The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs Wikipedia, has urged artificial intelligence developers to stop scraping its website and instead use its paid, opt-in API service, Wikimedia Enterprise. The foundation said the move ensures responsible access to its content while helping sustain the volunteer-based model that keeps Wikipedia running.

In a blog post published Monday, the foundation emphasized that Wikimedia Enterprise allows companies to use Wikipedia’s extensive knowledge database efficiently without overloading its servers. The foundation also asked AI developers to properly credit Wikipedia contributors when using its content in AI-generated responses, highlighting the importance of transparency and respect for the human editors who create and maintain the platform’s information.

The foundation revealed that it has recently seen a surge in automated bot traffic from AI firms scraping Wikipedia pages. Many of these bots reportedly attempted to avoid detection by posing as human users. Internal monitoring showed that the spike in traffic during May and June 2025 was largely from AI bots, while genuine human page views dropped by around 8% compared to the previous year.

Despite its frustration with scraping, the Wikimedia Foundation hasn’t rejected the use of AI altogether. Earlier this year, it introduced a strategy encouraging editors to use AI tools to assist with repetitive tasks and streamline editorial processes. This reflects a balanced approach — discouraging exploitative use of its data while embracing AI’s potential to improve productivity within the community.

Although the foundation criticized scraping practices, it stopped short of threatening legal action against AI companies. Instead, it positioned the paid API as a fair and sustainable solution for data access. Similar efforts to limit scraping have also emerged across the tech industry, as businesses aim to protect their digital assets from being mined by AI systems.

The development follows a recent legal setback for the Wikimedia Foundation. The U.K. High Court dismissed its challenge to parts of the Online Safety Act, which could force Wikipedia to verify contributor identities and restrict access for U.K. users.