Artists Applaud AI Blocker Thwarting Silicon Valley Giants’ ‘Theft’ of Creative Works

Artists Hail A.I. Bot Blocker to Combat Tech Giants ‘Stealing’ Creative Work
By Ryan Hooper | Updated: 00:05 BST, 2 July 2025

The UK’s creative industries, backed by stars like Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, and Dua Lipa, have gained a powerful new weapon against AI companies accused of exploiting their work. US tech firm Cloudflare has launched a tool to block Silicon Valley giants from mining music, films, literature, and art without permission.

Sir Elton John, Lord Lloyd-Webber, and Dua Lipa have rallied for stronger protections against AI scraping.

A New Defense for Creatives

Cloudflare’s tool allows publishers and artists to decide whether AI bots can access their online content. This move follows a heated debate in Parliament over the Data (Use and Access) Bill, where peers like Baroness Kidron—film director and crossbench advocate—pushed for stricter rules to safeguard intellectual property. Though her amendment was rejected, Cloudflare’s innovation offers a workaround.

Stephanie Cohen, Cloudflare’s Chief Strategy Officer, stated, “This model ensures creators retain control while fostering a sustainable ecosystem for AI development.” The tool lets domains block unauthorized scraping, forcing AI firms to negotiate directly with content owners.

Cloudflare’s tool empowers creators to block AI bots from scraping their work.

Industry and Political Support

Baroness Kidron praised Cloudflare’s approach: “This is a radical shift in balancing tech innovation with creators’ rights. It’s a vital step toward a fair digital future.” The Daily Mail also endorsed the tool, with DMG Media Vice-Chairman Rich Caccappolo calling it a solution to the “epidemic of unauthorized content scraping.”

Lawmakers and artists argue that AI companies profit from copyrighted material without compensation. Caccappolo emphasized, “A structured relationship between creators and AI platforms is essential. This tool is progress toward that goal.”

How It Works

Websites using Cloudflare’s service can now specify which bots are permitted. This transparency pressures AI firms to obtain proper licenses. The shift comes amid rising backlash against tech giants for leveraging creative works to train AI models.

Baroness Kidron hailed the tool as a breakthrough for copyright protection.

The Road Ahead

While the UK government has resisted legislation favoring stricter AI regulation, tools like Cloudflare’s offer immediate relief. As Cohen noted, this marks “the beginning of a new internet model”—one where creativity and technology coexist ethically.

For artists and publishers, the fight continues, but with newfound leverage to protect their work in the AI era.

For more updates, follow the Daily Mail’s ongoing coverage of AI and creative rights.