#Secure Data Destruction Services

[akshasingh]

Whether you’re considering data wiping, degaussing, or hard disk shredding in Dubai, selecting the right service depends on your specific needs, such as the level of security required and environmental concerns. For businesses and individuals alike, secure data destruction services in Dubai provide a reliable and compliant solution to safeguard sensitive information and ensure peace of mind.

[shredlogixinc]

Shredlogix, Inc- San Jose

Shredlogix is a Bay Area based document shredding and hard-drive destruction company with over 25 years of combined shredding experience. We are AAA NAID Certified for on-site destruction. Our offerings include: routine document shredding, purges, drop off shredding, hard-drive and media destruction and shred events.

We provide trusted, reliable paper shredding and hard drive destruction services throughout the Bay Area.

[3rtechnology]

Benefits from a Fully Managed Logistics Solution

3R Technology provides secure, reliable logistics backed by NAID AAA-Certified onsite destruction and transit services. Every shipment includes additional loss-level insurance at no extra cost, ensuring added peace of mind. Our vetted third-party carriers follow strict security protocols to maintain the highest standards of protection. With real-time, load-level GPS tracking, you’ll always have full visibility into your shipment’s location and status, from pickup to delivery. Trust us for a fully managed and secure logistics solution.

3R Technology, a CTL Company

8002 S 208th St E105, Kent, WA 98032, United States

+12065827100

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cQrQXqAZbd59evSy6

[baytechrecoverys]

How to Choose the Right IT Asset Disposal Service for Your Business?

Businesses whose IT assets have been retired or reached their age are either recycled or resold. The electronic equipment must be properly disposed of, and the data should be erased to avoid misuse of sensitive information. The right disposal of IT assets is crucial for maximizing the value of your retired IT components and reducing the hazards associated with those assets.  Read more

[omikasingh]

Secure data destruction and hard disk disposal

Data can be erased from hard drives using three methods: wiping, degaussing, and shredding, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The process of data wiping, also known as data sanitization, involves overwriting the entire hard drive with random data, making it impossible to retrieve the original information.

[oneofthosecrazycatladies]

Hitler and the Nazi party took over Germany in 53 days. March 1st marks 41 days of the Trump administration. My hope for March is that the list you’re about to read won’t be the in-real-time evidence of America sliding further into autocracy.

Here we go again…

January-February 2025

March 2025:

Trump has made English the official language of the country [x]

Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine [x]

Trump has imposed new tariffs on China and Canada and they have retaliated [x]

Linda McMahon has been confirmed as Secretary of Education [x]

The Department of Education has set up a witch-hunt for DEI in schools [x]

Trump has delayed his tariffs on the auto industry [x]

Trump suspends tariffs on Mexico [x]

ICE is now targeting migrant families who entered the US with their children [x]

Trump is threatening new tariffs on Canada, including 250% tariffs on dairy products [x]

The Department of Homeland Security is performing polygraph tests on employees [x]

Because of cuts to USAID, Afghan women who fled the Taliban might be forced to return [x]

The Department of Health and Human Services is offering all of their employees a $25,000 buyout [x]

Trump says he will double Canadian tariffs on steel and aluminum [x]

Trump administration has rebranded the CBP One app as the CBP Home app for migrants to self-deport [x]

Trump created a strategic crypto reserve [x]

The Department of Education is cutting nearly half its workforce [x]

The Department of Agriculture has cut $1 billion in funding to bring fresh food to schools [x]

The Trump administration is rolling back dozens of environmental protections and regulations [x]

The Senate passed the spending bill that had been passed by the Housw earlier this month [x]

Trump administration has shut down the media organization Voice of America [x]

The US is bombing Houthi targets in Yemen [x]

The EPA has dismissed a case against a chemical plant in Louisiana [x][x]

Trump has signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education [x]

Homeland Security is going after foreign-born academics and scholars [x]

Trump says the Small Business Administration will take over the oversight of federal student loans [x]

Trump administration has deported Venezuelan immigrants to El Salvador without due process [x]

NOAA is making cuts to weather data collection due to layoffs [x]

Trump stacks military academy boards with MAGA loyalists, including Michael Flynn and Charlie Kirk [x]

Trump tells the Attorney General to sanction lawyers who file lawsuits against his administration [x][x]

The IRS is going to share tax data with ICE to help them track down undocumented immigrants [x]

Trump signs executive order that requires proof of citizenship to vote [x][x]

Supreme Court upholds regulations on ghost guns [x]

An endangered sea turtle is stranded in Wales because of Trump’s funding freeze [x]

Federal appeals court maintains temporary block on Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act for deportations [x]

Trump is imposing 25% tariffs on all automobiles brought into the US [x]

HHS has cut 10,000 employees [x]

A Tufts University graduate student from Turkey has been arrested by ICE agents who wore masks as they grabbed her off the street [x]

This happened in February but I didn’t learn about it until just now — Trump created a White House Faith Office [x][x]

Trump signed an executive order to control the Smithsonian [x][x][x]

Ohio has passed a bill coined the Higher Education Destruction Act by opponents. It bans all DEI from Ohio public universities, bans faculty from going on strike, and eliminates services to veterans and people with disabilities [x]

Trump has pardoned Trevor Milton [x]

Trump won’t rule out a third term [x] (that’s not allowed)

Miscellaneous News:

A federal judge has ruled against another one of Trump’s attempted firings. [x]

Federal workers are fighting back against DOGE cuts [x]

Musk had a closed-door meeting with Republican senators to cement DOGE cuts in law [x]

There was a heated exchange in the House over the misgendering of Sarah McBride [x]

House Republicans block a vote to end Trump’s tariffs [x]

A federal judge has ordered that thousands of federal employees be reinstated [x]

Trump says he wants to use the Justice Department to go after his political enemies [x]

A judge has blocked Trump’s transgender military ban [x]

Elon Musk is spending millions of dollars on a Wisconsin Supreme Court election [x]

Arlington National Cemetery has taken down information about female veterans and veterans of color from their website [x]

The person in charge of defending DOGE cuts is a social media fashion influencer [x]

A chorus of ladies wrote a song for Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) [x]

The UK, Germany, and Nordic countries have all issued travel warnings about traveling to the US [x]

Columbia University has given in to Trump’s demands in order to restore federal funding [x]

Usha Vance and Mike Waltz, along with other US officials are planning to visit Greenland this week [x]

Trump administration accidentally sent secret war plans to the editor of a magazine [x]

Trump defends Mike Waltz who accidentally added a journalist to text chain about secret war plans [x]

The White House is seeking corporate sponsorships for its annual Easter Egg roll [x]

Florida is trying to loosen their child labor laws [x]

Ohio is trying to pass a bill to completely ban all DEI in public universities [x]

Alabama board defunds local library in first action under new book ban law [x]

Utah has banned fluoride in its drinking water [x] (I hope you like tooth decay)

JD Vance says Greenlanders want to join the US [x]

April-June 2025

This post is constantly being updated so if this comes across your dash, check OP’s blog to see the most up-to-date version.

Remember that you have a voice. Remember that Donald Trump and his spineless cronies want you to just give up and accept their control. REMEMBER: NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL INFERIOR WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT.

[lamprecyclingchicago]

Chicago Lamp Recycling offers comprehensive solutions, including e-waste recycling in Chicago and secure data destruction services, to help businesses and individuals manage their electronic waste responsibly.

[kuldeep7417]

100% Secure Data Destruction in India

Ensuring 100% secure data destruction in India crucial to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access or misuse. In India, as in many other countries, there are specific regulations and standards that organizations must adhere to when disposing of data, especially personal or confidential information.

Here are some key points and methods related to secure data destruction in India:

Legal Framework: The Indian IT Act, 2000, and the associated rules provide guidelines for data protection and privacy. Organizations must comply with these regulations when handling and disposing of data.

Data Destruction Methods:

Physical Destruction: This involves shredding paper documents, CDs, DVDs, hard drives, and other storage media using specialized equipment that ensures the data cannot be reconstructed.

Data Wiping/Overwriting: For electronic storage devices like hard drives, secure data wiping or overwriting methods can be used. Tools and software that overwrite data multiple times to ensure it is irrecoverable are employed.

Degaussing: This method uses a strong magnetic field to erase data from magnetic storage devices like hard drives.

Certified Service Providers: Organizations can opt for certified data destruction service providers in India. These providers use industry-standard methods and equipment to ensure secure and compliant data destruction.

Documentation: Proper documentation of the data destruction process is essential. This includes maintaining records of the data destroyed, methods used, and a certificate of destruction from the service provider.

Chain of Custody: Maintaining a secure chain of custody during the data destruction process is crucial. This ensures that the data remains secure from the point of collection to destruction.

Employee Training: Training employees on data protection best practices and the importance of secure data destruction can help prevent accidental data breaches.

Regular Audits and Reviews: Conducting regular audits and reviews of the data destruction processes and practices ensures compliance with regulations and identifies any areas for improvement.

Environmental Considerations: Proper disposal and recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) resulting from data destruction should be done following environmental regulations and guidelines.

In conclusion, ensuring 100% secure data destruction in India requires a combination of following legal regulations, employing appropriate data destruction methods, using certified service providers, maintaining proper documentation, and conducting regular audits. Organizations should prioritize data protection and privacy to safeguard sensitive information and maintain trust with stakeholders.

[leiaenza]

Secure Data Destruction: Choose Computer Data Shred for Peace of Mind

In a world where data privacy is paramount, ensuring the secure destruction of sensitive information has never been more critical. Whether you're a business handling customer data or an individual concerned about personal information, trusting the experts is key. Enter Computer Data Shred, your trusted partner in secure data destruction, auditing and reporting, and hardware testing. In this blog, we'll explore why choosing Computer Data Shred for your data security needs is a decision you won't regret.

Secure Data Destructions

At Computer Data Shred, your data security is our priority. We specialize in secure data destruction, ensuring that sensitive information stored on various media, including hard drives, SSDs, tapes, and more, is permanently and irretrievably removed. Our cutting-edge techniques and adherence to industry standards guarantee that your data remains confidential.

Auditing and Reporting

Transparency and accountability are at the core of our services. We provide comprehensive auditing and reporting solutions to give you complete visibility into the data destruction process. Our meticulous reports include detailed records of each data destruction operation, helping you stay compliant with regulatory requirements and maintain peace of mind.

Hardware Testing

Data security goes beyond destroying data; it involves ensuring your hardware functions correctly. At Computer Data Shred, we conduct rigorous hardware testing to verify the integrity of your devices post-destruction. Our expert technicians thoroughly inspect and test your hardware, providing assurance that your equipment remains operational.

Why Choose Us?

1. Expertise and Experience: With years of experience in the industry, we have honed our skills and methodologies to provide the highest level of data security.

2. Cutting-Edge Technology: Our state-of-the-art equipment and software guarantee the most secure data destruction and hardware testing processes.

3. Compliance and Certification: We adhere to industry standards and hold certifications that demonstrate our commitment to data security and compliance.

4. Transparency: Our detailed auditing and reporting ensure you have a complete record of every data destruction operation.

5. Customer Satisfaction: Our focus on customer satisfaction means we tailor our services to meet your specific needs, providing peace of mind every step of the way.

Contact Us

Ready to protect your data with the best in the business? Contact Computer Data Shred today, and let us handle your secure data destruction, auditing, reporting, and hardware testing needs. Our team of experts is here to answer your questions, provide quotes, and work with you to develop a customized data security plan that fits your unique requirements.

Don't leave your data security to chance. Choose Computer Data Shred and experience the peace of mind that comes with knowing your sensitive information is in the hands of trusted professionals. Contact us today and take the first step toward comprehensive data protection. Your data's security is our top priority.

[goshredconfidentialg]

secure data destruction services Riverside County

Protect your sensitive information with our premier secure data destruction services in Riverside County. As a trusted leader among data destruction companies, we prioritize your data's security, providing peace of mind and compliance assurance. Safeguard your business today.

[securedatadestruction]

The Importance of Secure Data Destruction

 Introduction

ऐसे युग में जहा��� डेटा व्यवसायों और व्यक्तियों दोनों के लिए जीवनरेखा ह��, संवेदनशील जानकारी का सुरक्षित निपटान सुनिश्चित करना सर्वोपरि है। यह लेख सुरक्षित डेटा विनाश के महत्व और तरीकों, सेवाओं, नीतियों और लाभों सहित इसके विभिन्न पहलुओं की पड़ताल करता है।

Understanding Secure Data Destruction

Data Destruction Services

Data destruction services are specialized solutions designed to securely and irreversibly eliminate data stored on various media devices, such as hard drives, SSDs, tapes, and more. These services are essential to safeguard sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.

Methods of Secure Data Destruction

There are several methods of secure data destruction, each with its strengths and applications. Common methods include data erasure, hard drive destruction, and degaussing. Choosing the right method depends on the type of media and the level of security required.

The Need for Secure Data Destruction

Protecting Confidential Information

Secure data destruction ensures that confidential and proprietary data is permanently removed, reducing the risk of data breaches, identity theft, and corporate espionage.

Compliance with Regulations

Many industries and regions have strict data protection regulations that mandate the secure disposal of sensitive data. Compliance with these regulations is essential to avoid legal consequences.

Preventing Data Resale

Even discarded electronic devices can contain recoverable data. Secure data destruction prevents data from being resold or reused after disposal, preserving your privacy.

Secure Data Destruction Services

Data Destruction Companies

Numerous specialized data destruction companies offer professional services for secure data disposal. These companies use certified methods to ensure data irreversibility.

Hard Drive Destruction Services

Hard drive destruction services physically destroy storage devices, rendering them unusable. This method is effective for preventing data recovery.

Implementing a Data Destruction Policy

Importance of a Data Destruction Policy

A data destruction policy is a formal document that outlines how an organization handles data disposal. It is a crucial component of data security and compliance efforts.

Components of a Data Destruction Policy

Clear guidelines on which data should be destroyed and when.

Procedures for selecting appropriate data destruction methods.

Employee training on data disposal best practices.

Compliance with relevant data protection laws and regulations.

डेटा विनाश मानक

NIST Guidelines

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides guidelines for secure data destruction, including data erasure and destruction methods.

ISO Standards

ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 standards offer comprehensive guidance on information security management systems, including secure data destruction.

Benefits of Secure Data Destruction

Enhanced Security

The primary benefit is enhanced security. Secure data destruction minimizes the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Adherence to data protection regulations helps organizations avoid hefty fines and legal troubles.

Protection of Reputation

Proper data disposal protects an organization's reputation and customer trust by demonstrating a commitment to data security.

Environmental Responsibility

Many secure data destruction methods are environmentally responsible, promoting sustainability and reducing e-waste.

Conclusion

In a world where data is a valuable commodity, secure data destruction is not optional—it's a necessity. Whether you're a business handling customer data or an individual safeguarding personal information, understanding the importance of secure data destruction and implementing best practices is vital for protecting yourself, your organization, and your clients from the potentially devastating consequences of data breaches and leaks. Make secure data destruction an integral part of your data management strategy, and you'll enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is truly secure, even in its disposal.

Read More:-

[akshasingh]

Clear Earth offers the complete, safe and secure data destruction and shredding services of every kind of data in Dubai, UAE. Clear Earth is the trusted experts on electronic data destruction in UAE, providing secure data destruction services like hard drive shredding.

[ms-demeanor]

Hi! You’re in the LA area, right? I hope you and your family are okay.

Unrelatedly, I ran across a thread on Mastodon about Proton Mail, which I think you’ve talked about before, and was curious what you make of it / how credible it is: https://code4lib.social/@inthehands@hachyderm.io/113838748729664639

I'm fine thanks! Worried about some friends but I'm good.

I think that thread is not incorrect, but is also bullshit.

Email protocols do not allow for 100% anonymous communication and never will, when Proton was subpoenaed for user data that ended up with some French climate activists getting prosecuted they were transparent about what was requested and updated their logging rules to store less data. *Starting* from the assumption that protonmail is supposed to be totally secure OR sells itself as totally secure is disingenuous.

The great thing about open source software is that you never have to trust a shithead CEO when they talk about what the software does. I get why people are angry at the CEO (I think the CEO is at least half wrong in that he is claiming that Republicans will challenge monopolies, but he's not wrong about the destructive corporatism of the Democratic party even if he is *in essence* wrong about which party is more likely to gesture in the direction of breaking up tech monopolies) but A) the thread says that proton's software is "opaque" and it just. Literally is not. and B) that thread links to another thread talking about how what proton is selling is trust and nope. They don't have to sell trust; you can see what their software does if you choose to investigate it, there's no need for trust when you can verify. What they're selling is transparency and from where i'm standing they are indeed quite transparent.

God. Imagine thinking that a zero trust service is selling trust.

So I think the argument that "protonmail actually isn't as secure as it claims" is bullshit that people bring up whenever they're mad at the company (whether they have legitimate reasons to be mad at the company or not).

For the record: you should never, ever, EVER treat email as a secret. Nothing you do over email is really secret because *the rules that allow email to function as a service* require at least some very sensitive information to be an open part of the protocol.

The Proton page on end to end encryption is *very* clear that it is the contents of your email messages that are encrypted, not your email as a whole, and in the image they use to illustrate this the parts of your email that *cannot* be made private (sender, recipient, subject line, time sent) are shown unencrypted:

They're not subtle about letting people know this. Nor are they quiet about the fact that replies to encrypted emails are not encrypted by default.

So the thread is *technically* correct in that all the security "holes" described reflect reality, but it's correct like saying "McDonald's says that you can eat their food for every meal and you'll put on ten pounds of muscle but ACTUALLY putting on ten pounds of muscle requires a huge amount of dedication and a very careful diet and a lot of resistance exercise" - like, I guess yeah that's what you have to do to put on ten pounds of muscle but where exactly was McDonald's making that claim? Did they actually make that claim or are general statements like "I'm Lovin' It" being misinterpreted in bad faith by people on the internet who are mad at something a CEO did?

So. Like. Yeah the CEO is being a shithead, the social media team made a pretty bad fuckup by doubling down on his shitheadery, the product still works as described, AND the thread discussing all of that is deeply annoying.

So.

I think this thread actually does a great job of explaining why I've never seen a "hackers for social justice" group that has lasted. This reminds me a LOT of when someone tried to say that you shouldn't use firefox because the former CEO was a homophobe. There are a lot of deeply shitty people who have made important contributions to our tech ecosystem and if we threw the baby out with the bathwater every time Notch from Minecraft ended up being Notch from minecraft you'd lock yourself out of a lot of really important tools. And this isn't the same as "buying harry potter merch funds transphobia" because it literally doesn't; especially with open source tools you can continue using the software and cheerfully hate the CEO because A) fuck that guy and B) what the fuck are you going to do about it, guy, this shit's encrypted.

I don't want to get too deeply into a discussion about what is or is not cancel culture, but what I'm seeing in that thread (and what I see coming up every time someone brings up the "But the French Climate Activists!" thing) is an attempt to prioritize political alignment over real-world utility. It's attempting to cancel a *genuinely useful tool* because someone involved in the development is an asshole.

By all means, don't give protonmail money if the CEO's trump-positive comments make you feel unsafe.

However: What service are you going to use that is as accessible and as secure to ensure that you actually *are* safe? There are alternatives out there. Do they actually do more than proton? Are they easier to use? Are they open source? One of the responses to that thread was "yeah, that dude seems shitty; i'd switch to another service if there was another one that I felt was as secure" and that's pretty much what I think the correct attitude is. (If you really, really still want to switch, Tuta has been the broadly recommended alternative to protonmail for years but at this point Proton has a suite of services that some users would need to replace, not just email)

IDK i think shit like this contributes to a lot of the bad kind of security nihilism where people are like "oh no, things will never be secure and even my scrappy little open source product is headed by an asshole, i may as well use google because everything sucks" when they should have the good kind of nihilism which is like "man, there are a lot of assholes out there and they're never going to stop being assholes; i'd better take proactive steps to act like the people who make tech stuff are assholes and operate from a better base of security at the start"

so the takeaways are:

Proton never claimed that anything but the message contents of your e2e encrypted messages are encrypted; as far as these things go, they do a pretty good job of being both secure and easy to use compared to other offerings.

Yeah the CEO is being kind of a shithead and I'm not a huge fan of that.

If you think the CEO is being a shithead and don't want to give the company your money, don't pay for their services, but the CEO being a shithead doesn't actually mean you can't trust their services; their services are literally built on zero trust, if the CEO literally wanted to hunt you down personally he wouldn't be any more able to decrypt your emails than he was before and he wouldn't be any more likely to respond to a subpoena than he was before (proton does respond to subpoenas when required but not otherwise; they've been compelled to produce more data in the last decade than before because law enforcement finally realized who they needed to yell at - one of the bigger issues here is the Swiss courts being more willing to grant subpoenas to international complainants than they were before)

The reason we don't go see hogwarts movies is because doing so gives JK money and that does actual real world harm; using firefox does not have an impact on Brendan Eich's ability to materially change the world. It is very weird that we're in a place where we're treating *open source encryption software that is simple enough for your grandma to use it* as though it is Orson Scott Card.

Sorry i'm still stuck on people thinking that proton, famously open source, is opaque, and that an encryption service with zero trust architecture is selling trust.

Anyway if you've ever got questions about security/privacy/whatever services privacyguides.org is a very reliable source.

OH I FIGURED OUT WHAT WAS BUGGING ME

There are a bunch of people discussing this talking about how the CEO's social media is what has made them feel unsafe and I'm going to be a dick here and say that facts don't care about your feelings.

The CEO saying stupid shit doesn't actually make you unsafe in a situation like this; if the CEO was a violent transphobe or aggressive racist or horribly misogynist that wouldn't actually make any of the users of the product less safe. That's why the SJ hacker stuff I've seen hasn't had much staying power; I think that groups that focus on making people feel included and welcome and safe to be themself within the group run into really big problems when there's a conflict between people in the group FEELING unsafe because of (genuinely important in many ways) cultural signifiers like political alignment and so in order to accommodate that feeling they end up doing things (like some kinds of collaboration/accountability practices, abandoning useful tools, WAY too much personal transparency and radical vulnerability for people who are doing crime shit) that ACTUALLY make them less safe.

The CEO being a shithead may make you feel bad, but moving to a less secure platform may actually be dangerous. One of these things can have a big impact on your life, and it is not the one that is happening on twitter.

Anyway. Email is inherently insecure and if you want a secure messaging tool use Signal.

If you are doing crime shit don't talk about it on the internet and DEFINITELY don't talk about it in any kind of unencrypted platform.

If you are a French climate activist who would like to not get arrested if Tuta gets a subpoena for data, use the email service in concert with tor and be cautious about senders/receivers and subject lines.

[3rtechnology]

3R Technology Offers IT Asset Data Sanitization & Shredding Services in Kent

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Click here to learn more about Data Sanitization & Shredding

3R Technology, a CTL Company

8002 S 208th St E105, Kent, WA 98032, United States

+12065827100

[baytechrecoverys]

Ways to Manage Data Assets Effectively

As company and customer data increases, there is a need to store the inventory when not in use properly. The upkeep of a company’s data assets aids in decision-making, customer service, and the creation of new revenue streams. Most businesses rely greatly on these data assets for their operations, which is why it is essential to have a management strategy to protect and organize this data.Click here

[probablyasocialecologist]

Libraries have traditionally operated on a basic premise: Once they purchase a book, they can lend it out to patrons as much (or as little) as they like. Library copies often come from publishers, but they can also come from donations, used book sales, or other libraries. However the library obtains the book, once the library legally owns it, it is theirs to lend as they see fit.  Not so for digital books. To make licensed e-books available to patrons, libraries have to pay publishers multiple times over. First, they must subscribe (for a fee) to aggregator platforms such as Overdrive. Aggregators, like streaming services such as HBO’s Max, have total control over adding or removing content from their catalogue. Content can be removed at any time, for any reason, without input from your local library. The decision happens not at the community level but at the corporate one, thousands of miles from the patrons affected.  Then libraries must purchase each individual copy of each individual title that they want to offer as an e-book. These e-book copies are not only priced at a steep markup—up to 300% over consumer retail—but are also time- and loan-limited, meaning the files self-destruct after a certain number of loans. The library then needs to repurchase the same book, at a new price, in order to keep it in stock.  This upending of the traditional order puts massive financial strain on libraries and the taxpayers that fund them. It also opens up a world of privacy concerns; while libraries are restricted in the reader data they can collect and share, private companies are under no such obligation. Some libraries have turned to another solution: controlled digital lending, or CDL, a process by which a library scans the physical books it already has in its collection, makes secure digital copies, and lends those out on a one-to-one “owned to loaned” ratio.  The Internet Archive was an early pioneer of this technique. When the digital copy is loaned, the physical copy is sequestered from borrowing; when the physical copy is checked out, the digital copy becomes unavailable. The benefits to libraries are obvious; delicate books can be circulated without fear of damage, volumes can be moved off-site for facilities work without interrupting patron access, and older and endangered works become searchable and can get a second chance at life. Library patrons, who fund their local library’s purchases with their tax dollars, also benefit from the ability to freely access the books. Publishers are, unfortunately, not a fan of this model, and in 2020 four of them sued the Internet Archive over its CDL program. The suit ultimately focused on the Internet Archive’s lending of 127 books that were already commercially available through licensed aggregators. The publisher plaintiffs accused the Internet Archive of mass copyright infringement, while the Internet Archive argued that its digitization and lending program was a fair use. The trial court sided with the publishers, and on September 4, the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reaffirmed that decision with some alterations to the underlying reasoning.  This decision harms libraries. It locks them into an e-book ecosystem designed to extract as much money as possible while harvesting (and reselling) reader data en masse. It leaves local communities’ reading habits at the mercy of curatorial decisions made by four dominant publishing companies thousands of miles away. It steers Americans away from one of the few remaining bastions of privacy protection and funnels them into a surveillance ecosystem that, like Big Tech, becomes more dangerous with each passing data breach. And by increasing the price for access to knowledge, it puts up even more barriers between underserved communities and the American dream.

11 September 2024