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What should I do if FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov flags my request as automated?
If FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov says your request looks automated, the confirmed next step is to complete the CAPTCHA shown by the site.
What the notice means
The access notice says the request was flagged as potentially automated. It also says automated scraping has led to limits on programmatic access.
That does not necessarily mean every flagged visitor is a bot. The notice specifically addresses human users by asking them to complete a CAPTCHA before access is granted.
What you should do
If you are a regular user trying to open the page:
- Complete the CAPTCHA on the access screen.
- Try loading the page again after access is granted.
- If you were using an automated tool, stop scraping and look for the site’s developer API documentation instead.
What not to assume
The provided notice does not give a list of every reason a request might be flagged. It also does not provide troubleshooting steps beyond the CAPTCHA for human users and API documentation for developers.
If the notice changes, follow the current instructions shown on FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov.
How can developers access FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov data without scraping?
Developers who need FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov data should use the developer API documentation the notice points to, rather than scraping pages directly.
The confirmed guidance
The access notice says automated scraping has led to limits on programmatic access. It directs users toward developer API documentation for FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov.
That is the practical answer: use the official API path described by those sites.
What developers should avoid
If your tool is triggering the access notice, continuing to scrape the site may keep running into programmatic access limits.
The provided material does not include the API endpoint, authentication requirements, rate limits, or example requests. Those details need to come from the official developer documentation.
What human users see
The same notice says a request may be flagged as potentially automated. Human users are asked to complete a CAPTCHA before access is granted.
Developers should treat that as a sign to switch from page scraping to the documented API route, then verify the latest instructions on the official site.
Sources / Learn more
Related reading
- How can a reader verify the actual Federal Register notice when the page shows an access-limitation message?; What should a flagged human user do if FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov blocks access with a CAPTCHA notice?
- How can I access the Federal Register page if it says my request may be automated?; What should I do if I need wider IP-range access to FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov?
- What should a reader do if the supplied Federal Register page does not show the qualified opportunity zone reporting details?; How can programmatic users access FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov material when automated-looking access is limited?
- What should a reader do if the supplied Federal Register source does not include the Cessna exemption notice substance?; How should programmatic users access FederalRegister.gov or eCFR.gov content after automated-looking access is restricted?