Wikipedia blacklists Archive.today, starts removing 695,000 archive links
Ars Technica
by
Jon Brodkin
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Wikipedia has taken a significant step by blacklisting Archive.today following its involvement in a DDoS attack against a blog. The decision was made after editors discovered that the site had altered archived webpages to insert the name of the targeted blogger, raising concerns about reliability. This move underscores Wikipedia's commitment to maintaining trustworthy sources and highlights potential ethical issues with certain archiving services.
The controversy began when Archive.today was used in a DDoS attack on a blog discussing its maintainer's use of aliases. The alteration of archived content further eroded trust, as it indicated a possible grudge against the blogger. Wikipedia editors concluded that directing users to such a site was unethical and could compromise user experience.
For tech enthusiasts, this case highlights critical issues around web reliability and the ethical responsibilities of online services. It also raises questions about how platforms source and verify archived content, potentially influencing editorial policies on Wikipedia and other sites. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of transparency and accountability in digital tools.
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Originally published on Ars Technica on 2/20/2026