From Book Burnings to Data Deletions: Safeguarding Health Info in the Digital Age

With the new administration taking office next month, there is a growing concern among scientists, public health experts, and environmental advocates about the potential removal of critical health science information from government websites. During the previous Trump administration, significant amounts of data related to climate change and environmental health were systematically deleted or altered on federal websites.

This practice not only undermines public trust but also hampers informed decision-making. One can only draw unsettling parallels to historical instances of information suppression, such as the book burnings in Constantinople and the raiding of monasteries in the Middle Ages.

In the 2017-2021 period, the Trump administration made approximately 1,400 changes to agency websites, removing science-based information on environmental issues like water pollution, climate change, and endangered species. These actions effectively erased valuable resources that the public relies on for accurate information. The systematic deletion of such data is reminiscent of historical attempts to control knowledge and stifle dissenting voices.

The potential for a recurrence of these practices when President-elect Donald Trump takes office again poses a significant threat to public health and environmental protection. Access to accurate information is crucial for maintaining public health, especially in the face of ongoing health crises. For example, transparent data on climate change and environmental health is essential for developing effective policies and fostering public awareness.

The suppression of scientific information not only hinders progress but also endangers lives. Informed citizens are better equipped to make decisions that protect their health and the environment. The removal of such information from public access is a disservice to society and a step backward in the pursuit of knowledge and truth.

The country already operates with discrepant and inconsistent health messaging. For example, in 2019-2020, just 40% of state health department websites — and only 1.6% of county and 3.9% of city websites — provided clear ways to find climate change information, whether through provision of original content or links to external agencies’ sites. Among websites providing original content, 48% provided no explanation of the causes of climate change. If this information is removed from federal websites, many more people may be left in the dark about climate change.

Preserving vital data, especially information related to health science and the environment, is crucial for ensuring public access and informed decision-making. While individuals and organizations cannot control what appears on government websites, we can take action to safeguard this knowledge and data. This can include participating in data archiving initiatives like Data Refuge, a public project aimed at preserving federal climate and environmental data at risk of being lost by collecting and storing data in multiple safe locations.

The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) focuses on preserving publicly accessible and potentially vulnerable scientific data, and archiving web pages from government agencies. EDGI has organized over 30 “DataRescue” events to archive such data.

Then there are web archiving tools, like the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, which allows users to save snapshots of web pages, ensuring that information remains accessible; or Webrecorder, which enables users to create interactive recordings of web pages. We can also engage with university libraries and research institutions that often have digital preservation programs and can assist in archiving important data sets.

There are some existing platforms to aid in digital preservation. The U.S. government’s open data platform, data.gov, serves as a central repository for federal, state, local, and tribal government information. The National Archives and Records Administration has implemented a Digital Preservation Strategy to identify, preserve, and provide access to the government’s vast holdings of archival records. This strategy ensures that electronic records, including textual materials, emails, data files, maps, and multimedia, are preserved to protect citizens’ rights, and aims to preserve the government’s web presence at each change of administration, ensuring that valuable information remains accessible even after administrative transitions.

There are also community resources like the Community Archiving Workshop Handbook, which offers step-by-step instructions for organizing community archiving projects. By actively participating in these initiatives and utilizing available tools, the public can play a vital role in preserving essential government data and ensuring transparency, accountability, and historical continuity. These tools and initiatives play a crucial role in safeguarding government data, ensuring its availability for future generations, and maintaining the integrity of public records.

As we move forward, it is imperative to remain vigilant and advocate for the preservation of scientific integrity. Ensuring that government websites remain transparent and continue to provide accurate, science-based information is essential for the well-being of our society. Before we get a whiff of a book burning, we must learn from history and resist any attempts to suppress knowledge, recognizing that an informed public is the cornerstone of a healthy and flourishing nation.

Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, is an academic hospitalist and chairs policy for Clinicians for Climate Action New Jersey. Her views do not necessarily reflect the views of her employer or any organization or institution with which she is affiliated.