The fix exists, hidden in a quiet house rule.
You are scrolling for headlines and, without warning, a verification page pops up. It hints that your behaviour looks automated, even though you are simply reading on your phone or laptop. It feels jarring, and a little personal, especially when you only wanted a quick catch up. The message is brief, but it packs a clear warning.
At the heart of it lies a policy from News Group Newspapers Limited, the publisher behind The Sun. The company blocks bots and any automated tools that try to scrape articles. It also recognises that real people get caught up by the filters now and then. The route back in is plain, if you know where to look.
Why this anti-bot warning appears on The Sun for real readers
The notice points to one simple trigger. When a reader’s browsing looks machine-like, the system treats it as a potential risk. That could mean rapid clicks or unusual patterns that the system does not expect from a human session. The wording on the page is clear on this misfire risk.
In the company’s own words, « Occasionally, our system misinterprets human behaviour as automated. » The line sums up what many regular readers experience during busy news cycles or patchy connections. It is not a judgment on the person, it is a safety net that sometimes tightens. And yes, it can feel unfair in the moment.
The quiet rule at News Group Newspapers that bans text and data mining
The publisher states the core policy without jargon. « News Group Newspapers Limited does not permit the access, collection, text or data mining of any content from our Service by any automated means whether directly or through an intermediary service. This is stated in our terms and conditions. » The ban covers scraping in all guises, whether a tool runs locally or through a third party.
This sits alongside a broader reminder that editorial work is protected. The company repeats the point in a second line that mirrors the first. « News Group Newspapers prohibits automated access, collection, or text/data mining of its content, including for AI, machine learning, or LLMs, as per its terms. » For readers, the takeaway is simple. Any automated access is off limits under the publisher’s terms and conditions.
What to do if you are blocked by mistake on The Sun today
Sometimes you are doing nothing unusual and still get flagged. The page anticipates that and points to a direct contact route for genuine readers who need help fast. It strips the process back to a single action, which is helpful when you just want your article to load.
The notice spells it out in plain English. « If you are a legitimate user, please contact our customer support team here [email protected] » It is a simple request, and it puts the onus on the reader to reach out with a note. A short message that explains what you were trying to read usually does the job, though the page does not give a script. And yes, the email is the official channel to use.
- For commercial content use, email [email protected]. For access help as a reader, email [email protected].
There is also guidance for companies or developers who want to use content legally. « If you would like to inquire about the commercial use of our content, please contact [email protected]. » That short line signals a gate you can knock on, rather than a locked door. It keeps commercial users on the right side of policy and gives the newsroom control over its journalism.
The limits for AI, machine learning and LLMs when it comes to The Sun content
The message spells out where automated systems must stop. Tools that rely on scraping, ingesting or mining articles for training or analysis fall under the same ban. The phrasing leaves no gap to squeeze through, whether an app is small or a major platform. The guardrail is the same across the board.
The explicit wording is unambiguous, and it is repeated for emphasis. « News Group Newspapers prohibits automated access, collection, or text/data mining of its content, including for AI, machine learning, or LLMs, as per its terms. » That is the line to respect if you build products that interact with news pages. For everyday readers, it changes nothing about how you browse. And if the system trips, you now know how to get back in, even if it feels a bit odd in teh moment.
Appreciate the plain-English explanation. I got the verification page twice this week and thought my account was compromised. Good to know it’s a misfire sometimes and there’s a route back in.
So rapid clicks = “machine-like”? With patchy wifi I reload a lot. How does the system distinguish frantic humans from bots, and will repeated false flags affect my ability to read in the future?