300 publishers take their fight against AI stealth bots to Congress

More than 300 publishers, led by the News/Media Alliance, lobby Congress for the Stealth Bot Prohibition Act (H.R. 9915). The bill defines a stealth bot as one that does not identify itself or its purpose and bans bots that damage or burden sites. It authorizes the FTC to impose civil penalties up to $53,000 per violation and allows state attorneys general to sue. Rules take effect 180 days after enactment. Publishers note that AI bots now account for over 60% of internet traffic, with 22 billion AI bot scrapes recorded in the first half of 2026, and claim undisclosed bots steal content and undermine the marketplace.