The Federal Bureau of Investigation has initiated an effort to uncover the true identity of the individual or entity that owns Archive.today—a well-known online archival service—and its numerous mirror domains, including platforms such as Archive.is and Archive.ph. According to a detailed report published by 404 Media, the Bureau’s actions became public when a copy of its official subpoena was shared directly on Archive.today’s verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The document reveals that, on October 30th, the FBI formally issued a legal demand to the internet domain registrar Tucows, compelling the company to release a range of identifying details linked to Archive.today’s operation.
Specifically, the subpoena mandates that Tucows provide not only the primary customer or subscriber’s full name and the registered address tied to the domain’s service and billing accounts, but also additional information capable of uniquely pinpointing the owner’s identity and activity patterns. This includes, but is not limited to, telephone records, financial and payment data, records of internet sessions, associated network addresses, and a comprehensive list of digital services utilized by the website’s operator—such as email service providers or cloud computing platforms. The formal request asserts that the sought-after data “relates to a federal criminal investigation being conducted by the FBI,” although it conspicuously omits any reference to a specific alleged offense, leaving open questions about the nature and scope of the underlying investigation.
Archive.today has been an active service since its launch in 2012, functioning as a tool that allows users to save and retrieve copies of webpages, effectively preserving online content that might otherwise be edited, removed, or placed behind access restrictions. Despite its long-standing presence and frequent usage by researchers, journalists, and everyday internet users, the true person or organization behind the platform remains concealed. The only traceable registration record attributes the original domain to someone using the name “Denis Petrov,” reportedly listed as residing in Prague, Czech Republic. However, this name—common in Russian-speaking regions—may represent either a genuine individual or a pseudonym intentionally chosen to shield the owner’s identity. Beyond this sparse information, virtually nothing substantive has been verified about who operates or finances the site.
Archive.today has developed a controversial reputation over time, partly because it enables users to bypass paywalls imposed by online publishers, allowing access to articles that are otherwise restricted to paid subscribers. Its functionality resembles that of 12ft.io, another service that performed a similar role before being targeted by the News/Media Alliance earlier in the year. The Alliance successfully lobbied for 12ft.io to be taken offline, accusing it of providing unauthorized technological means to circumvent payment systems and to reach copyrighted material without proper compensation to content owners. This ongoing tension between access to information and protection of intellectual property underscores the broader legal and ethical complexities surrounding sites like Archive.today.
The FBI’s recent action, therefore, situates this case within a broader global debate about the limits of privacy, transparency, and accountability in the digital age. While law enforcement agencies argue that such subpoenas are necessary tools to investigate potential criminal activity or misuse of digital infrastructure, privacy advocates warn that compelling disclosure of anonymous site owners risks undermining online anonymity, which for many serves as a safeguard for free expression, whistleblowing, and journalistic independence. The outcome of this inquiry could thus set a precedent for how governmental authorities approach anonymity in the digital archiving space—potentially influencing not only Archive.today’s fate but also the broader ecosystem of tools dedicated to preserving the open web.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/815691/fbi-subpoena-archive-is-owner
