[nonrandomstring]

> Why would you crawl the web interface when the data is so readily available in a even better format?

To cause deliberate harm as a DDOS attack. Perhaps a better question is, why would companies who hope to replace human-curated static online information with their own generative service not use the cloak of "scraping" to take down their competition?

[concerndc1tizen]

This is the most reasonable explanation. Wikipedia is openly opposed by the current US administration, and 'denial of service' is key to their strategy (i.e. tariffs, removal of rights/due process, breaking net neutrality, etc.).

In the worst case, Wikipedia will have to require user login, which achieves the partial goal of making information inaccessible to the general public.

[nonrandomstring]

In the worst case Wikipedia will have to relocate to Europe and block the entire ASN of US network estates. But if the United States is determined to commit digital and economic suicide, I don't see how reasonable people can stop that.

[concerndc1tizen]

It would be trivial to use botnets inside of the EU, so I doubt that blocking ASNs would make any difference. And as I said, it achieves the goal of disrupting access to information, so that would be nevertheless be a win for them. Your proposition does not solve for Wikipedia's agenda of providing free access to information.

> digital and economic suicide

My view is that it's an economic coup which started decades ago (Bush-Halliburton, bank bailouts in 2008, etc.). It's only inflation and economic uncertainty is only for the poor. For the people that do algorithmic stock trading, it's an arbitrage opportunity that occurs in the scale of microseconds.

By the time that the people will be properly motivated to revolt against the government, it will be too late.