March 23rd, 2025

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

The Internet Archive has cataloged 73,000 deleted U.S. government web pages since Trump's inauguration, processing 100 terabytes of data daily and emphasizing the importance of preserving digital history and public participation.

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

The Internet Archive, a nonprofit digital library based in a former Christian Science church in San Francisco, has gained prominence due to the Trump administration's removal of federal data. Founded in 1996, the Internet Archive operates the Wayback Machine, which allows users to access archived web pages and cultural artifacts. Following the inauguration, the organization cataloged approximately 73,000 web pages that were deleted from U.S. government websites, including critical information on climate change and public health. The Internet Archive's servers process around 100 terabytes of data daily, capturing a billion URLs and digitizing various media. The organization has become a vital resource for journalists and researchers seeking lost information, especially as the pace of data removal has accelerated under the current administration. The Internet Archive's founder, Brewster Kahle, emphasizes the importance of preserving digital history, noting that many links on the web are becoming obsolete, a phenomenon known as "link rot." The organization is actively working to identify and archive at-risk material, while also encouraging public participation in the preservation process. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the Internet Archive remains committed to safeguarding cultural heritage and making it accessible for future generations.

- The Internet Archive has cataloged 73,000 deleted U.S. government web pages since Trump's inauguration.

- It processes about 100 terabytes of data daily, capturing a billion URLs.

- The organization is crucial for preserving information lost due to government data removal.

- "Link rot" is a growing issue, with many web pages becoming inaccessible over time.

- The Internet Archive encourages public involvement in the archival process.

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