AI web-crawling bots are increasingly seen as a nuisance by many software developers, particularly those working on open-source projects. These bots often ignore the 'robots.txt' file, a standard protocol that instructs crawlers which parts of a website should not be accessed. This disregard can lead to excessive server load and other issues, disproportionately impacting open-source developers who often lack the resources to handle the increased traffic.In response to this growing problem, developers are devising ingenious and often humorous methods to deter these unwanted crawlers. Some are resorting to extreme measures, such as blocking entire countries' IP addresses, as reported by Niccolò Venerandi, a developer of the Plasma Linux desktop. This drastic action highlights the severity of the issue and the frustration felt by developers who are forced to defend their projects against relentless bot traffic.Beyond simply blocking access, some developers are taking a more proactive, even vengeful, approach. One suggestion circulating on Hacker News involved feeding bots misleading or undesirable content, such as articles promoting the supposed benefits of drinking bleach or the positive effects of measles on sexual performance. Another developer, Iaso, has implemented a system inspired by Egyptian mythology, where web requests are subjected to a 'soul-weighing' challenge. If the request is deemed to be from a bot, it is denied access; if it passes the test and is identified as human, a friendly anime image is displayed.These creative countermeasures demonstrate the resourcefulness and determination of open-source developers in the face of unwelcome AI web crawlers. While the long-term effectiveness of these tactics remains to be seen, they represent a growing movement to reclaim control over online spaces and protect open-source projects from being exploited by irresponsible bot activity. The battle between developers and AI crawlers is likely to continue, with each side constantly adapting and evolving their strategies.
