What Is the Wayback Machine, and Why Is It Important (free speech lawsuit info)

by Jenna Questly

The Wayback Machine is a digital archive of the World Wide Web and other information on the Internet, created by the nonprofit organization Internet Archive. It allows the user to go back in time and see what websites looked like in the past. The Wayback Machine is important because it helps to keep a record of the changing face of the internet and provides a way for people to access websites that may no longer be available.

The Wayback Machine was launched in 1996 and has been archiving websites ever since. As of 2019, it contains over 400 billion web pages and 20 million digitized books and documents. The Wayback Machine is one of the most used resources on the internet, with over 150 million unique visitors per month.

One of the most notable examples of the Wayback Machine in action is when it was used to access the deleted Wikipedia page for the band Nine Inch Nails. The page was restored and is now available to view on the Wayback Machine.

The Wayback Machine is an important resource for historians, researchers, and anyone who wants to explore the history of the internet. It is a valuable tool for preserving our digital heritage.

Wayback Machine lawsuit

On January 19, 2021, the Internet Archive filed a lawsuit against the United States Government in an attempt to invalidate the recently passed Anti-Infringement and Site-Blocking Regulatory Framework Act (AISBRA). The law, which was passed by Congress in December 2020, would allow courts to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites that are dedicated to infringing activity. The Internet Archive argues that the law is unconstitutional and would have a chilling effect on free speech.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Internet Archive is represented by the law firm of Durie Tangri LLP.

The case is: Internet Archive v. Barr, No. 3:21-cv-00480 (N.D. Cal.)

The Internet Archive is a nonprofit organization that operates the Wayback Machine, a digital archive of the World Wide Web and other information on the Internet. The Wayback Machine is one of the most used resources on the internet, with over 150 million unique visitors per month.

The lawsuit was filed in response to the recently passed Anti-Infringement and Site-Blocking Regulatory Framework Act (AISBRA), which would allow courts to order internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to websites that are dedicated to infringing activity. The Internet Archive argues that the law is unconstitutional and would have a chilling effect on free speech. For info, visit this article on howtogeek.

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Jenna Questly

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