{
  "id": 19517612,
  "title": "The AO3 Shutdown Is Pitting Fanfic Readers Against Authors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/the-ao3-shutdown-is-pitting-fanfic-readers-against-authors",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-11T16:13:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Wired",
    "slug": "wired",
    "url": "https://www.wired.com/story/the-ao3-shutdown-is-pitting-fanfic-readers-against-authors/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The AO3 Shutdown is creating tension between fanfic readers and authors. Archive of Our Own (AO3), a popular fan fiction website, went offline last month due to a security incident. This left many authors worried, as they found their works on unauthorized mirror sites. Some fans saved the stories on personal drives, leading to the emergence of collective drives on Google Drives. However, these drives have been met with criticism from some authors who argue that distributing their work without permission violates fanfic norms. The incident has also reignited debates about AI scraping and the fear of content being taken down. The expansion of fan fiction into mainstream culture, such as through the adaptation of fan fictions into novels, has contributed to the community's growing size and the emergence of larger drives, which have sparked controversy.",
  "summary": "“It has left a sour taste in my mouth,” says a Heated Rivalry fanfic author who found her work uploaded to AO3 mirror sites without her consent.",
  "key_points": [
    "AO3 website went offline due to security incident last month",
    "Authors found works on unauthorized mirror sites, causing worry",
    "Some fans saved stories on personal drives, leading to collective Google Drive efforts"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}