Inside the race to archive the US government's websites
The new U.S. administration's removal of thousands of government web pages has prompted organizations to archive critical public health and environmental data, raising concerns about future research and informed decision-making.
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In response to the recent mass takedowns of U.S. government websites by the new presidential administration, various organizations are mobilizing to archive critical data related to public health, environmental justice, and scientific research. Thousands of web pages, including those from USAID, the Census Bureau, and the CDC, have been removed as part of a broader effort to eliminate information deemed unnecessary or politically sensitive. Experts, including David Kaye and Margaret Hedstrom, express concern over the implications of these actions for the scientific community and public access to information. Initiatives like the End of Term Web Archive and the Open Environmental Data Project are working to preserve this data, with the latter focusing specifically on climate-related information. The archiving process is complex, often requiring manual intervention to ensure comprehensive data capture, as automated tools may miss critical elements. Archivists warn that the loss of this data could have long-term consequences, creating gaps in historical records and impeding future research. The urgency of these efforts is underscored by the recognition that the data is taxpayer-funded and essential for informed decision-making in various sectors.
- The new U.S. administration has removed thousands of government web pages, impacting public health and environmental data.
- Organizations are actively archiving data to preserve it for future scientific and historical use.
- The archiving process is complicated and often requires manual efforts to ensure completeness.
- Experts warn of long-term consequences from the loss of critical data, which could hinder future research.
- The data being archived is considered essential for informed decision-making and is funded by taxpayers.
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