EconStor now includes an AI filtering system
Posted: August 8th, 2025 | Author: Olaf Siegert | Filed under: Monthly Report | Comments Off on EconStor now includes an AI filtering systemBots and crawlers from artificial intelligence (AI) services are increasingly impacting open access repositories, often causing performance issues and temporary outages. Since implementing a filter system in June, the system stability of EconStor has improved, though download numbers have declined slightly as a result.
Artificial intelligence (AI) services have more and more impact on all parts of the web. They also affect services like Open Access databases and repositories, as AI bots scrape and harvest these services to a degree, that disturbs the normal user interaction. E.g. a survey undertaken by COAR in April 2025 found out, that 90% of all repositories are encountering aggressive crawlers (or “AI Bots”), usually more than once a week, and often leading to slow downs and service outages.
EconStor is no exception here: We have experienced more and more AI Bots crawling our repository in the recent months with the result of slower performance and even time outs. To tackle this, we have set up an AI bot filter system since the end of June. Now, when you visit the EconStor website, you might notice a short fade-in of a webpage saying “Making sure you’re not a bot”, before you are transferred to the actual EconStor site.
Since we have implemented the AI filter, the performance of EconStor has improved again and we don’t experience any more disturbances at the moment. On the other hand the number of downloads has decreased as a result. Currently, we try to find the right balance between an uninterrupted service on the one hand and not filtering out too many real downloads on the other hand. Please keep this in mind, when you use EconStor or have a look at the download statistics.
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