Internet Archive to create backup of database in Canada

The Internet Archive, which saves copies of old web pages, is creating a backup of its database in Canada, in response to the election of Donald Trump in the US presidential  election. 

''On November 9th in America, we woke up to a new administration promising radical change,'' the non-profit organisation wrote in a blogpost explaining the move. ''It was a firm reminder that institutions like ours, built for the long-term, need to design for change."

The Internet Archive offers services like the Wayback Machine, a tool that allows users to access cached versions of websites long after they were pulled off the internet, and Open Library, which provides free access to millions of e-books.

The organisation, which is soliciting donations said the move would cost millions.

Justifying its decision, to backup its data in Canada, the organisation claimed that Trump could threaten an open internet.

''For us, it means keeping our cultural materials safe, private and perpetually accessible.  It means preparing for a Web that may face greater restrictions.''

Trump's campaign speeches raised concerns among free speech advocates after he threatened to close up ''certain areas'' of the internet in an effort to prevent terrorists from communicating or recruiting online.

''Somebody will [say] 'Oh freedom of speech, freedom of speech.' These are foolish people. We have a lot of foolish people," Trump said last December.

Trump had also said he would like to "open up" libel laws so he could punish journalists who wrote negative things about him.

According to commentators, the move was based on the presumption that  if the Internet Archive had a Canada-based operation, controversial documents would stay online in the event that US censorship laws became more restrictive under Trump.

Brewster Kahle founder of the Internet Archive, also pointed to the possibility that government surveillance might increase under a Trump administration as another reason for the move.