Neocities founder stuck in chatbot hell after Bing blocked 1.5 million sites

A unique section of the Internet is becoming increasingly difficult to access through Bing, as the search engine has unexpectedly begun blocking around 1.5 million independent websites hosted on Neocities. Launched in 2013, Neocities aims to preserve the nostalgic charm of GeoCities by allowing users to create personalized websites without the constraints of standardized templates. This platform has become a haven for artists, niche communities, and those seeking a quirky online presence. Kyle Drake, the founder of Neocities, has dedicated himself to keeping this vibrant aspect of the Internet alive. Users often find themselves navigating through colorful graphics and dynamic designs, reminiscent of the early days of the web, rather than the streamlined experiences commonly found on modern social media. However, last summer, Drake was taken aback when he discovered that Bing had started blocking access to Neocities sites. Initially, after reaching out to Microsoft, it seemed the issue had been resolved. Yet, recent reports indicated that users were once again facing difficulties logging in. Further investigation revealed that a complete block had been reinstated in January. Alarmingly, Bing not only delisted Neocities' front page but also redirected users to a fraudulent site, where sensitive login information could potentially be compromised. As Drake monitored the situation, he was shocked to see Bing's traffic plummet from approximately half a million daily visitors to zero. Concerned for the safety of Neocities users and the integrity of the platform, he promptly reported the issue through Bing's webmaster tools, hoping for a swift resolution. "I was bewildered by the sight of a site that merely copied our front page. I had no idea if it was a phishing attempt or something more sinister," Drake expressed in an interview with Ars, highlighting the urgency of the situation.