A recent study examining 263 South African news websites reveals a significant lack of protection against AI crawlers. Fewer than one-third of these sites actively block access to the automated systems used to gather data for training artificial intelligence. This means a large majority are potentially having their content extracted without consent or compensation. The report highlights a dilemma for South African digital media, balancing accessibility with the need to control how their work is used by rapidly developing AI technologies. While many publishers may be unaware of the issue or lack the technical resources to implement blocking measures, the practice raises ethical concerns regarding intellectual property and fair use. This widespread scraping leaves South African news vulnerable to exploitation as AI systems become increasingly reliant on vast datasets. The study underscores the urgent need for media organizations to address this challenge and explore strategies to protect their content in the age of artificial intelligence.