Several major media companies have begun restricting the Internet Archive’s access to their material, fearing that the open-access archive could become an indirect source of data for AI training. This refers to content that was previously accessible via the Wayback Machine even after being removed from the original sites.
Several major media companies have begun restricting the Internet Archive’s access to their material, fearing that the open-access archive could become an indirect source of data for AI training. This refers to content that was previously accessible via the Wayback Machine even after being removed from the original sites.
According to Engadget, some publishers have decided to block or partially restrict the work of the Internet Archive’s archive bots. The reason is the growing interest of AI companies in large structured arrays of texts that can be quickly processed automatically. Archive copies of sites with open APIs are seen as a potential workaround for accessing journalistic materials without the permission of copyright holders.
The media emphasize that the problem is not in archiving as such, but in the further use of materials. The Wayback Machine can provide access not only to open articles, but also to subscription materials or publications that editorial offices have already removed from public access. In the context of AI development, this creates a risk of uncontrolled use of content for training models.
The restrictions on access to the Internet Archive fit into a broader conflict between the media industry and AI developers. Publishers are increasingly trying to control where and how their texts are used, while simultaneously demanding licensing or compensation for the use of material in commercial AI products.
The Internet Archive has served as a digital library and preservation tool for the Internet’s history for many years. However, the widespread adoption of generative AI is changing the rules of the game: even open access services are now considered part of the data supply chain for algorithms, forcing media outlets to reconsider their approaches to protecting their content.
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