Many users are finding it harder to reach apnews.com since the site began requiring a security check before granting access. The system is meant to block bots, but it often leaves regular visitors waiting.
Instead of loading the news right away, the site now shows a verification page to confirm you’re not an automated bot. The check can take time, and the site warns that older computers or slow internet connections may make it take even longer. In September 2026, discussions in the Zotero community noted that AP News had begun using a stricter whitelist system, blocking some clients and automated requests. That month, Cloudflare introduced a policy dividing traffic management into three categories: search, AI training, and AI agents. It also strengthened anti-bot protections across millions of sites.
If you’re stuck on the verification page, the site suggests waiting a bit and avoiding a refresh unless necessary. Refreshing restarts the check and can extend the wait. Some outside sources warn that refreshing too often can trap you in a loop and make 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. Regular readers, though, can also get locked out or face extra steps just to read the news. Cloudflare says these measures are part of a wider effort to give publishers more control over who can access their content, especially as automated data collection for search engines and AI training grows.
These protections are meant to keep sites safe, but they also make access less convenient for everyday users. As online threats keep changing, more sites are likely to add similar checks. Finding the right balance between security and ease of use remains a challenge. Cloudflare has also said 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, AI training is blocked, and AI agents are restricted, making it harder for automated tools to get in.
