FBI tries to unmask owner of archive.is (heise.de)

Article summary

The FBI has obtained a court order to compel the Canadian provider Tucows to hand over user data related to the owner of archive.today, a website that allows users to access archived versions of web pages. The website is also known for bypassing paywalls and has been used to access content without sending traffic to the original publishers. The reason for the FBI's investigation is not specified in the court order. The owner of archive.today has posted a 'canary' notice, suggesting they are aware of the investigation and are warning users about potential consequences.

Main themes

• FBI investigation
• archive.today
• paywall bypassing
• user data privacy
• cross-border law enforcement
• online archiving

What commenters say

• The FBI's request to Tucows is not legally binding, and the Canadian company may not be required to comply.
• The investigation into archive.today may be related to copyright issues or other alleged crimes, but the exact reason is not clear.
• Some commenters believe that cross-border collaboration between law enforcement agencies can be beneficial, while others argue that it can be problematic.
• The use of archive.today to bypass paywalls is seen as a controversial issue, with some viewing it as a necessary tool for accessing information and others seeing it as a threat to the business model of online publishers.
• There are concerns about the potential consequences of the FBI's investigation, including the possibility of the site being shut down or its users being targeted.
• Some commenters question the effectiveness of the FBI's efforts to unmask the owner of archive.today, given the site's use of anonymity tools and botnets.
• The discussion highlights the tension between the need for online archiving and preservation of information, and the need to protect intellectual property and enforce laws online.