Day-by-day SHARE OF GLOBAL NEWS attention for a query — what % of all worldwide articles mentioned this topic each day. Returns datapoints with timestamp and intensity (% of total news volume). Use to detect news-cycle spikes around events ("when did attention to X peak?"), benchmark attention ag...
Risk signalsAccepts freeform code/query input (query)
Part of the Gdelt server.
Free to start. No card required.
AI agents call timeline_volume to retrieve information from Gdelt without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though timeline_volume only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"timeline_volume": {}
}
}See the full Gdelt policy for all 23 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access timeline_volume gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
Day-by-day SHARE OF GLOBAL NEWS attention for a query — what % of all worldwide articles mentioned this topic each day. Returns datapoints with timestamp and intensity (% of total news volume). Use to detect news-cycle spikes around events ("when did attention to X peak?"), benchmark attention against history, or pair with timeline_tone to chart sentiment vs interest together. Cheaper than search_articles when you only need the volume curve, not the source articles themselves.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Gdelt MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Gdelt MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for timeline_volume: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Gdelt. Nothing to install.
timeline_volume is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the timeline_volume rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for timeline_volume. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
timeline_volume is provided by the Gdelt MCP server (https://gateway.pipeworx.io/gdelt/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 23 Gdelt tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
4,600+ MCP servers and 31,000+ tools scanned and risk-classified.