On the malicious attempts to erase webpage archives - and rewrite history? By Dr. Simone Gold (12/04/24)
Dr. Gold explains attacks (or intentional efforts) directed at Google, the Internet archive (archive.org), and major libraries have erased recent history. Of course, these erasures and attacks have various explanations, but the most obvious is:
"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." ~George Orwell, 1984
Key Points:
Google Search: Gone — September 2024, Google Search stopped caching webpages. It no longer shows links to web pages it has stored in the past.
Wayback Machine: Almost gone — October 2024, the Wayback Machine (archive.org), one of the main alternative ways to research webpage history, went down.
Many libraries — including British Library, Seattle Public Library, Toronto Public Library, and Calgary Public Library — as well as Google and the Wayback Machine have been attacked and “lost” important archival information.
British Library: Crippled — October 2023, the British Library experienced a cyber-attack and is still suffering the after-effects.
Dr. Gold’s Conclusion:
Throughout the COVID era, misinformation and disinformation were vilified by public health authorities and even presented as major threats to well-being. Efforts to censor any opinion that counter the standard narrative are ongoing.
Cyber-attacks are also ongoing, and are frequently presented as the work of "rogue" nations such as Russia or Iran. Cyber protection and clean-up after hacks cost governments, companies, and individuals a fortune, but the total cost is not only measurable in dollars.
Related:
"Who Controls the Past Controls the Future" Quote Meaning. What George Orwell Meant and How That Applies Today. By K. Kris Hirst (08/26/24):
