Archive · 25 Oct 2025
Reddit Sues AI Data Scrapers Over Content
Reddit, a popular website where people discuss various topics, is suing companies that collect its data without permission.
These companies, including Perplexity, scrape information from the site to use in their own products, like AI search engines.
Reddit argues this is illegal and wants to control how its content is used, similar to how other content providers license their material to AI companies.
The lawsuit follows similar actions against another AI company, Anthropic.
Reddit created a test post, which Perplexity accessed, to prove they were scraping data even after a cease-and-desist order.
Some argue that this type of data collection is not new, but the scale and purpose have changed.
Reddit wants to be compensated for the use of its data.
Reddit has sued Perplexity and three other data scrapers.
The lawsuit accuses the companies of illegally scraping Reddit content.
The case is in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Reddit created a 'test post' to confirm Perplexity's data collection.
Reddit seeks to control and potentially monetize its data.
- Who
- Reddit is suing Perplexity and other data scrapers.
- What
- Reddit filed a lawsuit against companies for allegedly scraping its content without permission.
- When
- The lawsuit was filed recently, with the case in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Where
- The lawsuit is filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.
- Why
- Reddit is seeking to prevent AI companies from freely using its data and potentially monetize its content.
Data Scrapers
Data Access
Reddit believes that the scraping of its data without permission is illegal and that it has the right to control how its content is used.
Data Scrapers
Some companies argue that public data should be free to use.
Monetization
Reddit wants to monetize its content by preventing unauthorized use and potentially licensing its data.
Data Scrapers
Some companies may be seeking to profit from the freely available public data.
- Plaintiff
- Defendants
- Perplexity, SerpApi, Oxylabs, AWMProxy
- Allegation
- Illegal data scraping
- Court
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Focus
- Perplexity
- Reddit Users
- 416 million weekly