Based on research conducted by the University of Edinburgh as part of the European Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries Policy Platform (EKIP) project, the report suggests that the rapid growth of automated web traffic from AI companies since 2022 places growing demands on the digital infrastructure of cultural heritage institutions. Organisations report increased server loads, higher cloud hosting costs and additional staff time spent responding to the issue
- Access and read Re:Commons: Renewing the Digital Commons for Cultural Heritage
The authors note that, for some institutions, the volume of bot traffic can resemble the pressure associated with cyberattacks. At a time when many organisations are facing budget constraints, the report warns that resources are increasingly being diverted away from core activities such as collection care, research, public engagement and access.
Beyond copyright concerns
While discussions around AI scraping have often focused on copyright and licensing, the report argues that broader issues also deserve attention. Among the concerns identified are:
- Pressure on public digital infrastructure and increased operating costs
- Loss of website traffic as users increasingly rely on AI-generated answers
- Concerns about transparency, provenance and institutional control over content
- Copyright and intellectual property issues
- Data protection and trust
These challenges are particularly significant for publicly funded institutions committed to providing open access to cultural heritage resources.
Calls for policy action
The authors argue that cultural heritage institutions should not be left to address these challenges alone. Recommendations include greater transparency from AI companies, improved mechanisms for addressing unauthorised data use, clearer identification of automated bots and investment in sustainable public digital infrastructure.
The report also advocates for support for public-interest and community-governed AI models that align with the values and missions of cultural heritage organisations.
Museums adopting defensive measures
The study found that many organisations have already implemented measures to protect their digital infrastructure, including server upgrades, traffic limitations, IP blocking and third-party firewall services. However, the report concludes that these responses are largely reactive and often fail to address the underlying causes of the problem.
As museums and cultural heritage institutions continue to digitise collections and expand online access, the report raises important questions about how openness, public access and the responsible development of AI can be balanced in the years ahead.
