The core issue highlighted is the increasing phenomenon of 'unpublishing' – the removal of official documents and speeches from online platforms. This isn't limited to Ireland; it's a global problem impacting access to information.
The letter cites the author's own research difficulties, finding previously accessible speeches now vanished from internet searches. This makes research significantly harder and raises concerns about the integrity of readily available information.
The author suggests a key reason for this unpublishing is that the content no longer aligns with the current political climate or prevailing narratives. The example given is the potential disappearance of climate change support statements by public figures.
While acknowledging the right for public figures to change opinions, the author expresses concern about the ease with which past statements can be erased from the public record. This raises crucial questions about transparency and accountability.
Sir, – Fintan O’Toole (“Official reports are disappearing down the Irish ’memory hole’.” June 17th) identifies a problem that extends far beyond Irish government reports.
The phenomenon of “unpublishing” is rife globally. I have found a number of accounts of speeches that I have referred to in previous research across a wide range of topics hard to retrace ie they have completely disappeared from internet search engines, despite my having details of date etc.
This is especially the case when what was said no longer suits the current moment.
Thus, I can imagine that right now support for net zero and tackling the climate emergency is going to vanish from the online record of speeches by many public figures as long as Trump is in power.
Public figures should of course be free to change their minds, but it is sad that they should be able to erase the record of their previous opinions so easily. – Yours, etc.
PROF ADRIAN GUELKE
Fitzwilliam Street,
Belfast.
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