Wayback Machine’s Crucial Role in Combating Misinformation

Aligarh : Aligarh Muslim University’s, department of Computer Engineering recently hosted a talk on the role played by the Wayback Machine in the ongoing fight against misinformation. The event, titled “Empowering the Battle against Misinformation: The Crucial Role of the Wayback Machine,” brought together faculty members and research students for an insightful discussion on the subject. The Wayback Machine, an innovative initiative by the Internet Archive (IA), archives searchable content including links, text, audio, and videos for future reference.

The talk, delivered by Dr. Sawood Alam, the Research Lead of the Wayback Machine at Internet Archive, shed light on the multifaceted aspects of misinformation and the contribution of the Wayback Machine. The event commenced with Prof. M M Sufyan Beg, Chairman of the Department of Computer Engineering, extending a welcome to the esteemed speaker and attendees, underscoring the topic’s significance.

Dr. Alam’s presentation covered a wide array of subjects related to misinformation, emphasizing the nuances that differentiate misinformation from disinformation. He further elucidated the diverse ways in which the Wayback Machine can be harnessed to retrieve historical or altered information, enriching participants’ understanding of this essential tool.

Dr. Sawood Alam’s expertise in designing techniques and workflows for accessing and preserving such invaluable data was evident as he expounded on the Machine’s functionality. Users can access past web content, even if it has been altered or the webpage is no longer available.

The event concluded with questions and answers session, promoting interaction among the participants.