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Reddit Tightens Old Reddit Access to Fight AI Scraping

Reddit plans to further restrict old reddit access to fight AI bot scraping. Meanwhile, tech executives sign a self-regulation pact on AI safety, Asus dodges a router ban, and Halide adds aperture control for iPhone 18 Pro.

Small block figures surround a brick castle-like structure while metal claws reach over it on a desk near a laptop.

By Owen Mercer | September 30, 2026 |

Reddit Tightens Old Reddit: Reddit restricts old reddit access further

Reddit plans new limits on old reddit access within the next few months. The company says automated bots keep scraping the legacy interface for AI training data. Soon, users will need a login and a minimum account age to view it. This story follows Reddit Tightens Old Reddit.

Reddit already requires logins for old reddit as of earlier this year. This next step adds friction specifically aimed at bot accounts. According to The Verge, the company frames this as anti-scraping, not a plan to kill the classic layout.

Why old reddit access matters to users

Old reddit still has a loyal base of long-time users. Many prefer its simpler layout over the modern redesign. Losing old reddit access, even briefly, frustrates people who rely on it daily.

Reddit’s data has real value for AI companies. Training large language models requires huge amounts of human conversation. That demand pushes platforms like Reddit toward stricter gatekeeping.

Tech leaders agree to self-police AI safety

Meanwhile, a separate AI story shows industry leaders taking a different tack. Executives signed a “morally binding” safety pact tied to President Trump’s administration. The document, called the Joint Commitment On Frontier Responsibilities, was shared by advisor David Sacks.

The agreement lets companies self-regulate their AI safety practices instead of following strict federal rules. Critics will likely question whether voluntary pledges carry real weight. Still, the signal matters for how governments and industry now split responsibility.

Self-regulation versus scraping concerns

Both stories touch on the same tension. Companies want access to data and freedom to build AI systems quickly. At the same time, platforms like Reddit must protect users from bot-driven exploitation.

Reddit’s crackdown and the executives’ pact both show how AI now shapes everyday tech policy. Consequently, ordinary product decisions increasingly reflect AI-era pressures.

Asus quietly sidesteps the router ban

In router news, Asus avoided the new US ban on foreign-made consumer routers. The ban started this spring and required companies to prove they pose no security threat. Asus also needed a manufacturing plan for US-based production.

As of September 9th, Asus reportedly cleared that bar. However, the company won’t explain exactly how, according to The Verge. That silence leaves customers guessing about future pricing and availability.

Reddit Tightens Old Reddit: Halide update brings aperture control to iPhone 18 Pro

On a lighter note, Lux Optics updated its Halide camera app for iPhone. The update unlocks full aperture control on the new iPhone 18 Pro’s main camera. It also adds two fresh photography styles for creative shooters.

Halide isn’t the first app to support the variable aperture feature. Still, it offers deeper manual control than most rivals. Photography enthusiasts eager to experiment might consider pairing it with a telephoto lens attachment (paid link) for extra reach.

Reddit Tightens Old Reddit: Takeaways for readers this week

These stories share one theme: platforms adjusting to new pressures.

  • Old reddit access will require login plus account age soon
  • AI safety now relies partly on company self-policing
  • Asus manufacturing details remain unexplained despite clearing the router ban
  • Halide gives iPhone shooters more manual aperture control

Watch for Reddit’s exact rollout timeline over the coming months. Also watch whether the AI safety pact leads to real enforcement, or stays symbolic.

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