Code of Conduct
The 1990 Web Archive is dedicated to preserving the early internet in a safe, respectful, and collaborative environment. This code applies to all users, contributors, researchers, volunteers, and staff interacting with our platform, datasets, events, and community channels.
01. Our Commitment
We are committed to providing a harassment-free and inclusive experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socioeconomic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.
As a digital preservation organization, we also pledge to handle historical content ethically, respecting the privacy and context of the individuals and communities represented in archived material.
02. Expected Behavior
✓ Do: Foster a Respectful Environment
- Use welcoming and inclusive language in all community spaces
- Be respectful of differing viewpoints, experiences, and technical backgrounds
- Gracefully accept constructive criticism and provide it respectfully
- Focus on what is best for the preservation mission and the community
- Show empathy toward other community members and historical content creators
03. Unacceptable Behavior
✗ Do Not: Engage in Harmful Conduct
- Use sexualized language, imagery, or make unwelcome advances
- Troll, insult, derogatory comments, or engage in personal/political attacks
- Harassment (public or private) or intimidation
- Deliberately spread misinformation about archived content or historical context
- Violate privacy by attempting to doxx, deanonymize, or exploit personal data from archives
- Use the archive infrastructure for malicious scraping, DDoS, or unauthorized commercial exploitation
- Ignore moderator requests or enforcement decisions
04. Handling Archived Content
The 1990 Web Archive contains historical materials that may reflect outdated language, cultural norms, or controversial viewpoints. Our guidelines for interacting with this content are:
- Context Over Condemnation: Analyze content within its historical timeframe. Do not present historical artifacts as current endorsements.
- Privacy First: If you encounter sensitive personal information, PII, or content that may harm living individuals, report it immediately. Do not redistribute or screenshot it.
- Ethical Research: When using archived data for academic, journalistic, or commercial projects, cite the archive properly and adhere to fair use and copyright guidelines.
- No Defacement: Archived pages must not be altered, rewritten, or presented as originals outside the preservation context.
05. Reporting & Enforcement
If you experience or witness behavior that violates this code, or if you have concerns about archived content, please report it immediately to our moderation team.
All reports are reviewed promptly and confidentially. The moderation team will determine appropriate responses based on the severity and context of the incident, which may include:
- Private warning or public apology request
- Temporary suspension from platform features or community channels
- Permanent ban for repeated or severe violations
- Removal or restriction of flagged archived content (where applicable)
Retaliation against individuals who report violations will result in immediate and permanent removal from the platform.
06. Scope
This Code of Conduct applies within all official 1990 Web Archive spaces, including the website, API, GitHub repositories, Discord/Slack channels, mailing lists, and official events. It also applies when an individual is officially representing the archive in public or professional settings.
Report a Violation or Concern
If you need to report unacceptable behavior, flag sensitive archived content, or request clarification on any policy, our team is here to help.
Email: conduct@1990webarchive.org
For urgent matters or content removal requests, please use the secure form below.
Submit a Report →