apnews.com now requires a security check before you can view articles. The process can be slow, especially on older devices or with a weak internet connection. If you get stuck, try refreshing the page or check Cloudflare support for help.
Many users are finding it harder to reach apnews.com since the site began requiring a security check before letting anyone in. The system is meant to block bots, but it often means a noticeable wait for regular visitors.
Instead of loading the news right away, the site now shows a verification page to confirm you’re not an automated bot. This check isn’t always quick. The site warns that older computers or slow internet can make the process take even longer. In September 2026, independent discussions in the Zotero community noted that AP News had started using a stricter whitelist system, which blocks some clients and automated requests.
In September 2026, Cloudflare introduced a new policy that separates traffic management into three categories: search, AI training, and AI agents, strengthening anti-bot protections across millions of sites.
If you’re stuck on the verification page, the site suggests waiting a bit and not refreshing unless you have to. Refreshing restarts the check and can make the wait even longer. Some outside sources warn that refreshing too often can trap you in a loop, making it harder to get through.
This kind of security is becoming more common among big news sites as they try to protect themselves from automated attacks. But it also means that regular readers sometimes get locked out or have to jump through extra hoops just to read the news. Cloudflare says these steps are part of a wider move to give publishers more control over who can access their content, especially with the rise of automated data collection for search engines and AI training.
While these protections are meant to keep sites safe, they also make things less convenient for everyday users. As online threats keep changing, more sites are likely to add similar checks, but finding the right balance between security and ease of use is still a challenge. Cloudflare has also said that new sites now get recommended security settings by default, with different rules for advertising and non-advertising pages. On ad-supported sites, search is allowed, but AI training is blocked and AI agents are restricted, making it even harder for automated tools to get in.
Cloudflare has confirmed that for new websites, recommended security settings are applied by default, with distinctions made between advertising and non-advertising resources. For sites with advertising, search remains allowed, AI training is blocked, and AI agents are restricted on ad pages, reflecting a systematic tightening of automated access controls.
