nrq2d ago
internetarchive

New post from Joe Mullin, EFF's Sr. Policy Analyst: Publishers say they’re blocking the Internet Archive because they fear AI scraping. This is a misguided notion: it won’t stop AI, but it will erase the web’s historical record.

@eff has the story ⤵️
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/03/blocking-internet-archive-wont-stop-ai-it-will-erase-webs-historical-record

Blocking the Internet Archive Won’t Stop AI, But It Will Erase the Web’s Historical Record

Imagine a newspaper publisher announcing it will no longer allow libraries to keep copies of its paper. That’s effectively what’s begun happening online in the last few months. The Internet Archive—the world’s largest digital library—has preserved newspapers since it went online in the mid-1990s....

Electronic Frontier Foundation
Mar 17 at 9:00pmWeb
Show threadDenis Warburton3d ago

@internetarchive That’s complete and absolute BULLSHIT.*

IA is a major content feeder to website scrapers.

—

* Apologies for the profanity, but strong language is called for in this situation.

Show threadinfernalsk majeskæg3d ago

@artandtechnic So what do you call BS on? That blocking @internetarchive crawlers won't stop "AI"? Or that it *will* prevent preservation of websites?

I wouldn't be surprised that "AI" companies scrape freely available data on archive.org, but they also hammer the rest of the open web like a constant DDoS attack. Blocking the IA is only going to hurt illicit "AI" scrapers marginally, but more so current open culture and future historians.

Show threadDenis Warburton3d ago
@fanden @internetarchive Your question is answered by the second sentence in the post you are replying to. Thanks for asking!
Show threadinfernalsk majeskæg3d ago
@[email protected] It really isn't, no. But I suspected you didn't have more than empty claims. Bye bye. @internetarchive
Show threadDavid Hopeward3d ago
@internetarchive So start scanning the physical newspaper every day?
Show threadElshara Silverheart3d ago
@nanowiz @internetarchive The hell??..
Show threadHumbird0 Fandom3d ago

@internetarchive @eff
Most publishers never liked the archive, so I suspect they're just using this as a convenient excuse?

Besides, the digital lending feature requires an account, which AI wouldn't have access to anyway.

Show threadBryce Belcher3d ago
@internetarchive @eff They should know that AI is unavoidable at this point.
Show threadAriaflame1d ago
@Blindy @internetarchive @eff It's a menace is what it is.
Show threadToni Aittoniemi3d ago
@internetarchive @eff It’s pretty obvious they’re going to publish stuff that doesn’t bear the touch of daylight.
Show threadTim Zee2d ago
@internetarchive @eff
There is possible room for compromise. If the publications are worried about losing readers to the Internet Archive, simply agree to embargo new content for a set period like 6 months.
Show threadjzilversmit882d ago
@internetarchive @eff we need the Internet archive so yes such a policy is wrong.