Cloudflare has expanded its Project Galileo program to help non-profits and independent media safeguard their content from AI crawlers, providing access to its Bot Management and AI Crawl Control tools for free.
The program, which began in 2014 to protect journalists, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups from cyber threats, now supports around 750 participants worldwide, including independent newsrooms and non-profits. In total, more than 3,000 organisations across 125 countries are part of Project Galileo.
Cloudflare said the move comes as local and independent news organisations face growing challenges in an AI-driven web. With readers increasingly accessing information through AI models rather than directly visiting websites, publishers risk losing both traffic and the revenue streams tied to it.
“I believe in journalism, and I believe that the health of local, independent news is essential for a healthy Internet and a healthy society,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO of Cloudflare. “When we started Project Galileo, we wanted to help stop cyberattacks from suppressing the online voices of journalists and human rights workers. Now, that vision is expanding and we want to ensure the evolution of AI works in their favour, not against it.”
Independent media adapt to AI disruption
Meera Selva, CEO of Internews Europe, welcomed the expansion, saying: “In an era defined by AI and digital disruption, providing robust tools to independent media isn’t just support – it’s a lifeline. Cloudflare’s commitment to equipping Internews and its partners with secure, Business-level access has empowered journalists in high-risk environments to withstand cyber threats and uphold press freedom.”
Sarah Gustavus Lim, Membership Director at LION, added: “Independent publishers need tools that are easy to use and affordable, so they can focus on growing their business. LION appreciates the security and protection Cloudflare has provided our members through Project Galileo for years, and we’re excited to see more resources now available to help members manage the rapidly evolving landscape of digital security.”
Ryan Powell, Head of Innovation and Media Business at the International Press Institute, said that enabling media outlets to monitor and monetise AI crawler activity would help sustain journalism: “Independent media’s ability to fulfil its democratic function depends on generating revenues free from political or business influence. By monitoring and monetising the crawling of publishers’ sites, media can protect their intellectual property while developing new revenue streams to support quality journalism.”
Cloudflare said the expanded offering would give publishers greater transparency into how AI models are using their work, allowing them to block, allow or selectively license access. The company also plans to broaden access to AI tools for non-profits and public interest organisations to support their own missions.