internetarchiveFeb 4

We've teamed up with Automattic to fight link rot on the open web. Check out the new Internet Archive Wayback Machine Link Fixer for WordPress. The free plugin preserves pages, redirects broken links to archived versions, and helps ensure the web keeps its memory.

“It’s very important that websites have a memory," said Alexander Rose of Automattic. "When links go dead, in effect, the truth goes dead—especially in the age of AI,”

Learn more ➡️ https://blog.archive.org/2026/02/04/inside-the-new-wayback-machine-plugin-for-wordpress/

#linkrot

Show threadAshley BlewerFeb 4
@internetarchive grosss
Show threadJoe OrtizFeb 4
@ashley @internetarchive Yeah, It's going to blow up in their faces later I'm sure plus all the ethical issues...
Show threadCalvinBall
@joeo10 @ashley @internetarchive wait I just read through the article and it seems pretty great to me? What am I missing?
Feb 4 at 10:19pmWeb
Show threadLuna LacteaFeb 5
@calvinball @joeo10 @ashley @internetarchive Automattic & Matt Mullenweg are very very anti LGBT.
Show threadAshley BlewerFeb 5
@calvinball @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled ya I can't speak for anyone else but Automattic/Matt sux
Show threadCalvinBallFeb 5
@ashley @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled oh no, I had no idea :( that's so ass, the idea here is great, why did it have to be marred by working with bad partners 
Show threadCalvinBallFeb 5

@ashley @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled okay I wanted to know more about this so I read up on a bunch of stuff. I went through Matt Mullenweg's wiki page, the TechCrunch articles about the WP Engine drama, news posts about his transphobia while he was on sabbatical, the statement made by the trans staff from Tumblr/Automattic. The whole shebang.

First off, jaysus what a mess. Second, I do want to see this Archive.org/Automattic Collab in a positive light, still. (1/2)

Show threadCalvinBallFeb 5

@ashley @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled Even though Automattic needs better leadership, I always try to see the rest of the company as distinct from it's CEO. Automattic is filled with well-meaning passionate employees that work towards improving the open web. This link rot fixer is a really important step, it solves a huge issue that is threatening the web currently! And now it's easy to implement on open source sites used by millions of people.

You can not like Matt and still like this.

Show threadJess FFeb 5

@calvinball
No one said anything about the company's rank and file employees. I hope people stop working with the US govt bc we have bad leadership right now and working with us will mean perpetuating harm to a lot of people. Don't wanna cause harm, then don't team up with people who have a record of harm.

We don't have to work with organizations that have bad leadership. We can simply choose to work with companies that have good leadership.

@ashley @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled

Show threadAshley BlewerFeb 5
@joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled @calvinball appreciate your thoroughness in thinking through this and the overall benefits, speaking just for me I have direct personal experience to Automattic's bullshit and I hold a grudge to the grave
Show threadAshley BlewerFeb 5
@joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled @calvinball this includes especially his demands that everyone in the company be 100% aligned to this losers dumb fasc ass or quit/be fired if not
Show threadCalvinBallFeb 5
@ashley @joeo10 @internetarchive @jackemled yeesh 😵‍💫 thank you for sharing your experience! I honestly don't know enough and don't want to pass judgment, but I'm glad I'm learning more about the inside workings of tech companies like Automattic.