Wikipedia blacklists Archive.today, starts removing 695,000 archive links
If DDoSing a blog wasn't bad enough, archive site also tampered with web snapshots.
If DDoSing a blog wasn't bad enough, archive site also tampered with web snapshots.
Executive Summary
Wikipedia has blacklisted Archive.today, a website that provides archived versions of web pages, due to concerns over the site's practices. Specifically, Archive.today has been found to have tampered with web snapshots and engaged in DDoS attacks against a blog. As a result, Wikipedia is removing approximately 695,000 archive links from its platform. This decision highlights the importance of ensuring the integrity and reliability of online sources, particularly in the context of preserving historical records and promoting transparency.
Key Points
- ▸ Wikipedia blacklists Archive.today due to tampered web snapshots and DDoS attacks
- ▸ 695,000 archive links to be removed from Wikipedia
- ▸ Concerns over the integrity and reliability of online sources
Merits
Preservation of Integrity
Wikipedia's decision to blacklist Archive.today helps maintain the integrity of its platform and ensures that users have access to reliable information.
Demerits
Loss of Historical Records
The removal of archive links may result in the loss of historical records and limit the ability of users to access archived versions of web pages.
Expert Commentary
The blacklisting of Archive.today by Wikipedia underscores the complexities of preserving digital content and the importance of ensuring the integrity of online sources. This incident highlights the need for more robust vetting procedures and the development of reliable and trustworthy archiving services. Furthermore, it raises questions about the role of intermediaries in preserving digital content and the potential consequences of relying on third-party services for historical records.
Recommendations
- ✓ Wikipedia should develop more robust vetting procedures for evaluating the reliability of external archives
- ✓ Alternative archiving services should be explored to mitigate the loss of historical records
