'Preserving the web is not the problem. Losing it is,' claims the director of the Internet Archive
PC Gamer
by James Bentley February 19, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The director of the Internet Archive, Mark Graham, has strongly argued against the growing trend of websites blocking access to the Wayback Machine due to fears of AI scraping. In a recent blog post titled *“Preserving The Web Is Not The Problem. Losing It Is,”* Graham emphasizes that these concerns are “understandable but unfounded.” He highlights that the Wayback Machine is designed for human readers and not for large-scale data extraction, with measures like rate limiting, filtering, and monitoring in place to prevent misuse by AI bots. Graham warns that blocking access to web archives risks damaging the public record and hindering efforts to preserve internet history.
Graham points out that while there are valid concerns about AI, libraries and archival tools are not the culprits. He stresses that denying researchers, journalists, and historians access to archived data threatens accountability, evidence-based work, and the integrity of historical records. For instance, he notes that without archives, journalists lose vital tools for investigative reporting, researchers miss critical evidence, and the web becomes more fragile and fragmented. This, in turn, makes it easier to manipulate or erase parts of history.
The tension between preserving digital content and protecting site monetization strategies is also evident. Some websites, particularly those with paywalls like *The Guardian* and *The New York Times*, may block tools like the Wayback Machine to prevent readers from bypassing their paid access. However, Graham argues that archives should not be penalized for this issue, as they serve a public good by maintaining a digital record of the web. He also acknowledges the challenges of balancing preservation with site monetization but insists that blocking archives is counterproductive.
For gaming and PC enthusiasts, this debate has broader implications. The Wayback Machine could serve as an invaluable resource for preserving gaming history, allowing researchers and fans to study the evolution of games, esports, and digital culture. By blocking access to such tools, the gaming community risks losing a critical means of understanding its past and ensuring accountability in the industry. This tension between preservation and monetization highlights the need for a balanced approach that respects both the value of archived data and
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/19/2026