lecture

Preserving Digital Sovereignty: Marleen Stikker & Brewster Kahle at the KB in The Hague on 17 September

/ / Digital Rights for Libraries, Events

Exploring the Urgency of Web Archiving in the Netherlands

In an era where websites disappear and change at a rapid pace, safeguarding our digital cultural heritage has never been more urgent. On Wednesday 17 September, the KB – National Library of the Netherlands in The Hague will host a timely event featuring Marleen Stikker, internet pioneer and founder of Waag Futurelab, and Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive and Internet Archive Europe.

This gathering will focus on the need for robust web archiving in the Netherlands. Despite efforts by Dutch institutions like the KB, the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, and the National Archives, legal restrictions severely limit the ability to comprehensively preserve Dutch websites. As a result, vast portions of the Dutch digital memory risk being lost.

A Conversation on Collective Memory and Democratic Infrastructure

The event will spotlight how digital preservation supports historical awareness, collective memory, and a functioning democracy. Marleen Stikker will address why digital sovereignty matters in today’s political and cultural landscape, while Brewster Kahle will showcase the Internet Archive’s efforts to preserve the web globally since 1996—including new ways to explore archived websites and bring collections to life.

Their insights will be particularly valuable for policymakers, cultural heritage professionals, and digital preservation advocates. The discussion will be held in English.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 17 September 2025
Time: 15:30–17:00, followed by a reception
Location: KB | National Library of the Netherlands, Prins Willem-Alexanderhof 5, 2595 BE The Hague
Language: English
Audience: Heritage sector professionals and advocates, policymakers, and invited guests

👉 Register here to attend the event and more info here.
(Note: Limited capacity; early registration recommended)

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Internet Archive Europe at PublicSpaces Conference: AI for the Public Good

/ / Events, Public AI

Internet Archive Europe is proud to participate in the upcoming PublicSpaces Conference in Amsterdam, joining a pivotal session on “AI for the Public Good” taking place on June 13, 2025. This session brings together leading voices in the field to explore how artificial intelligence can serve the public interest rather than narrow commercial goals.

Exploring Public-Interest AI

An academic for the Inclusive AI Lab of the Utrecht University and three Advisors of Internet Archive Europe will speak during the session, each bringing a unique perspective and expertise:

  • Jeff Ubois will set the stage by outlining some of the links between AI, digital preservation, and support public benefit initiatives—highlighting the challenges and opportunities we face in ensuring long term access to digital information. 
  • Daniel Erasmus will present ClimateGPT, a case study of how large language models can be harnessed to enhance decision-making about climate change, a pressing global concern that demands innovative, collaborative solutions.
  • Ben Cerveny will talk about AI as digital public infrastructure in various domains, and how the public sector might successfully build and maintain such resources
  • Lucie Chateau will bring a vital global lens, discussing how AI systems can be inclusive by design and look beyond EU-centric models. She will highlight the importance of ensuring AI policy and development also address the realities and innovations emerging from the Global South.

The panel will be moderated by Caroline De Cock, Head of Research of information labs.

Join the Conversation

As questions of control, access, and accountability in AI systems become ever more pressing, this session invites policymakers, technologists, civil society, and the public to rethink how AI can serve shared societal goals.

📅  When: June 13, 2025 – 15:15-16:10 @ IJzaal
 📍 Where: PublicSpaces Conference, Pakhuis De Zwijger, Amsterdam
🔗 More info & registration: conference.publicspaces.net/en/session/ai-for-the-public-good

Let’s explore how to build AI systems that empower communities, preserve knowledge, and strengthen public infrastructures. Join us for this timely and important discussion.

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Thank You, Leiden—You Were Amazing!

/ / Events, Public AI

On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at Leiden University’s Telders Auditorium, located in the heart of Leiden, Netherlands. It was an inspiring afternoon filled with positive academic energy, thought-provoking discussions, and a shared passion for digital preservation of our collective memory. Many thanks to Jos Damen and Dirk Visser for co-hosting and organizing the afternoon.

Brewster Kahle at Leiden University, photo by Beatrice Murch

Exploring the Future of Libraries and AI

This special event focused on the exciting possibilities at the intersection of libraries and artificial intelligence. My talk introduced the Internet Archive Europe’s efforts to leverage AI and other tools to enhance accessibility and relevance to vast cultural heritage collections of our partners.

Key Takeaways from the Talk

✅ Championing Cultural Diversity – How Public AI can reflect European values, support smaller languages, and ensure that no cultural narratives are lost.

✅ Empowering Accessibility – We explored how AI-driven assistive technologies can improve access to library resources for individuals with reading challenges.

✅ Revolutionizing Discovery – We discussed how machine learning can improve metadata, making digital collections easier to search and navigate, bringing them to life.

✅ Addressing Global Challenges – The potential of AI in tackling global issues such as climate change was also a key topic of discussion.

Brewster, Jos, Dirk and Ronald with the Project Owl, by Vera de Kok – CC BY-SA 4.0

Presentation of Owl Award

On behalf of the Internet Archive, I was deeply honored to receive the ProjectUil (Project Owl) from Wikimedia Nederland. Ronald Velgersdijk the organizer of the Dutch Wiki Owls, presented me with the 2024 Project Owl. Vera de Kok, another Dutch Wikipedian, was on hand to document the whole event with photos and wrote up a wonderful summary of the presentation of the owl and the lecture. We appreciate all the time and effort all Wikipedia contributors put in to make the internet a place for knowledge.

Looking Ahead: Move Ahead, He Said

The atmosphere in the room was enthusiastic, perfectly captured by Dirk Visser, Professor of Intellectual Property Law at Leiden Law School, who passionately encouraged the audience with his call to action “To move ahead as quickly as possible!”, acknowledging that “there certainly will be legal issues, but [the archive community] should of course invoke Article 3 for all things that are not for profit”. 

His words resonated deeply, reaffirming our collective commitment to both preserving knowledge and driving innovation forward.

I left Leiden feeling inspired by the engagement and thoughtful questions from the audience. This event reinforced the Internet Archive Europe’s mission—to build a global digital library that is accessible to all and to foster a community where digital collections truly come to life.

Thank you, Leiden, for an unforgettable experience! Your energy and enthusiasm remind me that when we combine passion with purpose, we can achieve extraordinary things. Let’s continue to push boundaries and shape the future of digital knowledge together!

— Brewster Kahle

🔗 Explore more about the Internet Archive Europe’s mission, in our “news about Internet Archive Europe“.

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Brewster Kahle to Deliver Lecture at Leiden University on Digital Libraries and AI

/ / Events, Public AI

Internet Archive Europe Lecture at Leiden University

Renowned digital librarian Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, will deliver a lecture at Leiden University on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, from 16:00 to 17:00 CET. The event will take place at Rapenburg 73, Leiden, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands (2311 GJ), in the Telders Auditorium.

📢 Register here to attend the event.

Brewster Kahle and the Mission of the Internet Archive

Brewster Kahle has dedicated his career to creating a digital library accessible to all, preserving over 145+ petabytes of data—including books, web pages, music, television, and software. The Internet Archive collaborates with 1,200+ library and university partners worldwide to safeguard cultural heritage and enhance public access to knowledge.

Founded in 2004, Stichting Internet Archive / Internet Archive Europe is a non-profit research library that works with European cultural heritage organisations to archive digital collections. Thanks to support from KPN/XS4ALL, these valuable resources are stored in the Netherlands.

Exploring AI and Digital Archives in Europe

With the encouragement of European directives, new opportunities are emerging to make digital collections more dynamic and accessible. This lecture will explore how Internet Archive Europe can collaborate with research institutions and cultural heritage organisations to expand access to digital archives.

Key discussion points will include:

  • Developing assistive technologies to help individuals with reading difficulties access library resources.
  • The potential for Public AI to reflect European values and support smaller languages.
  • Using AI and machine learning to address major challenges like climate change.
  • Leveraging AI for enhanced metadata and improved searchability of vast collections.
Join the Discussion on the Future of Digital Knowledge

This lecture is an opportunity to engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the future of AI, digital libraries, and open access in Europe. How can Internet Archive Europe and its partners maximise the potential of AI to serve the public good?

📅 Event Details:
 📍 Location: Telders Auditorium, Leiden University, Rapenburg 73, Leiden, Netherlands
🕓 Date & Time: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | 16:00 – 17:00 CET
🔗 Register now
🗣️ Language: English 🇬🇧

This event is open to researchers, librarians, and anyone interested in the intersection of AI, digital preservation, and open access.

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