Hands off the Internet Archive: Protecting our digital history

The internet has revolutionized the way we access information, providing a wealth ‍of knowledge at our fingertips. However, this constant influx⁤ of‌ new data often leads to the loss of older information and the spread of misinformation.

One organization that has been a beacon of truth in this digital age is the Internet Archive. ⁤Founded by Brewster Kahle in 1996, the Archive’s mission is to provide universal access to all knowledge.

Over the years, Kahle and his team have amassed an impressive collection, including millions of books, audio recordings,‌ videos, images, software programs, and more. The Wayback Machine allows users to view archived web pages dating back decades while the Open Library project aims to create a web page for every‌ published book.

Despite its noble intentions, the Internet Archive faced legal challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when it offered free ebook borrowing through Controlled Digital Lending. ‍This led to a lawsuit from publishing companies like Hachette⁢ which resulted in a court‌ ruling against the Archive’s practices.

2024-11-07 17:15:03
Link from www.computerworld.com