Humming along in an old church, the Internet Archive is more relevant than ever

Npr - Mar 23rd, 2025
Open on Npr

The Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library founded in 1996, is playing a vital role in preserving web history, especially as the U.S. government under President Trump has deleted and altered significant amounts of federal web data. The Wayback Machine, the Archive's public access point, is capturing around 100 terabytes of data daily, safeguarding information that might otherwise vanish. The organization, led by Mark Graham and founder Brewster Kahle, has documented over 73,000 pages expunged by the Trump administration, including critical public information about climate change and public health.

The context of this digital preservation effort highlights the alarming trend of 'digital decay' or 'link rot,' exacerbated by the rapid deletion of government data. The Internet Archive's work is crucial for maintaining public access to historical records, such as the interactive timeline of the January 6 Capitol attack. Despite facing legal challenges and cyberattacks, the Archive continues to serve as a key resource for journalists, researchers, and the public, emphasizing the importance of supporting such institutions to ensure the preservation of cultural and historical knowledge.

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RATING

7.2
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Internet Archive's mission and the challenges it faces in preserving digital content. It effectively highlights the importance of digital preservation in the context of government data deletions and the broader issue of link rot. The article is well-structured and accessible, making complex topics understandable to a general audience. While it presents a balanced view of the Internet Archive's efforts, it could benefit from additional sources and perspectives to enhance its accuracy and depth. The article's timeliness and relevance to ongoing debates about information access and preservation make it a valuable contribution to public discourse. However, further exploration of opposing viewpoints and ethical considerations could strengthen its impact and engagement potential.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article presents a largely accurate depiction of the Internet Archive and its role in preserving digital content. It correctly identifies the Internet Archive as a nonprofit organization founded in 1996, dedicated to creating a digital library of internet sites and cultural artifacts. The description of the Wayback Machine as a tool for accessing historical web pages is accurate and well-supported by sources. However, some claims, such as the specific number of web pages cataloged after Trump's inauguration or the exact impact of government data purges, would benefit from additional verification. Overall, the article aligns well with established facts about the Internet Archive's mission and operations.

7
Balance

The article provides a balanced view of the Internet Archive's efforts and challenges, highlighting both its successes in preserving digital history and the obstacles it faces, such as legal battles and cyberattacks. However, the narrative leans towards emphasizing the negative impacts of the Trump administration's actions on digital preservation, which could be perceived as biased. While it mentions the typical nature of changes in federal websites with new administrations, the focus on the unprecedented scope of deletions under Trump's leadership might overshadow other perspectives. Including viewpoints from government officials or experts on digital preservation could enhance balance.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and clearly communicates the Internet Archive's role in preserving digital content. It effectively uses language that is accessible to a general audience, making complex topics like digital decay and link rot understandable. The narrative flows logically from the introduction of the Internet Archive to its current challenges and efforts. However, the inclusion of more direct quotes or examples could enhance clarity by providing concrete illustrations of the issues discussed. Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone and presents information in a coherent manner.

6
Source quality

The article relies on credible sources, such as statements from Mark Graham and Brewster Kahle, key figures within the Internet Archive. These sources provide authoritative insights into the organization's operations and challenges. However, the article would benefit from additional external sources to corroborate claims about the extent of data deletions and the impact on public access to information. The lack of diverse viewpoints or independent expert opinions on digital preservation and government data management slightly diminishes the overall source quality.

7
Transparency

The article is transparent in its presentation of the Internet Archive's mission and the challenges it faces. It clearly outlines the organization's goals and the context surrounding recent data deletions from government websites. However, the article could improve transparency by providing more detailed explanations of how the Internet Archive collects and preserves data, as well as the specific methodologies used to verify the extent of data purges. While it mentions the organization's funding sources, more information on potential conflicts of interest or partnerships would enhance transparency.

Sources

  1. https://help.archive.org/help/wayback-machine-general-information/
  2. https://20fix.com
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQ6V9FkrO9U
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Archive
  5. https://middlebury.libguides.com/internetarchive