dantheclamman

The World Factbook (surprisingly useful reference provided by CIA, just suddenly closed without notice)

https://lemmy.world/post/42680851

The World Factbook (surprisingly useful reference provided by CIA, just suddenly closed without notice) - Lemmy.World

Lemmy

Feb 4 at 10:36pmWeb
Show threadsome_guyFeb 4
Because let’s get rid of anything our government did that was somehow good. It’s been awesome having the fascists destroy anything and everything that is helpful.
Show threadThe D QuuuuuillFeb 5
that’s what fascists do. successful things are a threat to fascism
Show threadhalcyoncmdrFeb 5
Especially facts. Surprised this stayed up as long as it did.
Show threadDudeImMacGyverFeb 4
Shitty, that was one of the coolest publicly known things that they did.
Show threadCanacondaFeb 5
Even shittier. TIL about it.
Show threadUnderpantsWeevilFeb 5
Saying the World Factbook was the one good thing the CIA ever did feels like all the folks over in the /r/neoliberal sub on Reddit compulsively shouting “PEPFAR!” every time Bush 43’s name is mentioned.
Show threadDudeImMacGyverFeb 5
Not even what I said, but OK.
Show threadHailSeitanFeb 4
Can a mirror be hosted somewhere, since it’s in the public domain?
Show threadTruscapeFeb 5
Probably got captured on the internet archive, someone just needs to make a good compressed repack like Wikipedia does.
Show threadradixFeb 5

Not my site, but credit where it’s due: simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/

Up through 2020 is at the archive, and this guy uploaded that latest version to github as well.

Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell

Somewhat devastating news today from CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they decided …

Simon Willison’s Weblog
Show threadJubilantJaguarFeb 5
FYI this guy is an internet treasure.
Show threadFmstratFeb 6
Should be added to Kiwix
Show thread∃∀λFeb 5
They’re probably “on it”, as the expression goes.
Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

Show threadParagoneFeb 5

Factchecking isn’t tolerated, in ideological-regimes.

Left or right, or religious/fundamentalist ( fundamentalist-antitheism is a religion too, mr. Dawkins ).

To be expected.

ALL hard-reference information sources will be extinguished, systematically, as this process progresses.

When ONLY ideology remains, THEN rampaging & reacting can be the “law”.

The escalation will continue,

as I’ve been trying to warn people.

Prep, if you want.

Tippingpoint should happen after mid-Feb, not before.

Then NO civilrights will remain, only totalitarian .. mess.

Civil War Part2.

_ /\ _

Show threadedgemaster72Feb 5
Soon to be replaced by Dear Leader’s World Feelsbook, which will be immediately outdated if ever printed
Show threadEtnaAtsumeFeb 5
Coming Soon: The World Alternative Facts Book!
Show threadmanxuFeb 5
Isn’t that just a rebranded Conservapedia? 🧐
Show thread_stranger_Feb 5
Fakts.
Show threadHemingways_ShotgunFeb 5
The word “Fact” is woke.
Show threadregdogFeb 5
[Laughs in Orwell]: America has always been at war with facts
Show threadAccoSpoot1Feb 5
Shit, I wonder what they’ll do with the NORAD Santa tracker, nothing good for sure.
Show threadvector42Feb 5
Well, shit. I always used this as a trustworthy data information for my students.
Show thread_stranger_Feb 5
It never occured to me that the Central Intelligence Agency would ever share any of it with public. Interesting!
Show threadpiecatFeb 6
From a time when a government was a service