Democracy Now! Audio cover image

Democracy Now! Audio

Extended Interview: Mark Graham on Internet Archive's Work Preserving the Web as Gov't Sites Go Dark

Feb 28, 2025
Mark Graham is the Director of the Wayback Machine at the Internet Archive, a pivotal nonprofit dedicated to preserving digital history. He delves into the implications of recent governmental changes affecting access to information and the traditional role of archives. Topics include the significance of the Wayback Machine in safeguarding our digital past, humorous anecdotes about the early Internet, and the urgent need to archive social media amid new restrictions. Graham also discusses the regulatory landscape for AI and its impact on libraries, emphasizing community engagement.
00:00

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The unprecedented removal of government web pages underlines a disturbing trend that jeopardizes historical accountability and public access to essential information.
  • The Internet Archive's mission to preserve digital content is vital for maintaining transparency and providing resources amid increasing challenges in digital archiving.

Deep dives

Impact of Government Webpage Removals

Recent actions have led to the removal of a significant number of government web pages related to diversity initiatives, hate crimes, and scientific research, with over 180 pages taken down from the Department of Justice alone. This trend includes crucial data like state-level hate crime statistics and environmental policy details, raising concerns about transparency and access to vital information. The unprecedented scale of these webpage removals is notably higher than any previous administration's actions, indicating a more extensive effort to erase or alter public records. The implications of these removals are profound, affecting not only historical accountability but also real-time access to resources that support various communities.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode