FBI orders domain registrar to reveal who runs mysterious Archive.is site

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is intensifying efforts to identify the individual behind Archive.is, also recognized as Archive.today. This site, popular for preserving webpage snapshots, is frequently utilized to circumvent news paywalls. In a recent move, the FBI issued a subpoena to domain registrar Tucows, requesting detailed subscriber information concerning Archive.today. This action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation led by the FBI. According to the subpoena, Tucows is obligated to provide the requested information. Although the subpoena is intended to remain confidential, the Archive.today account on X (formerly Twitter) publicly shared the document on October 30, the same day it was issued. The post included a link to the PDF of the subpoena, accompanied by the term “canary.” The document warns that noncompliance could lead the U.S. Attorney General to seek enforcement through the courts, with potential consequences for contempt of court. Tucows, headquartered in Toronto and also registered in Pennsylvania, has a clear policy regarding subpoenas and warrants. They state that they will provide registrant information in response to valid civil subpoenas and criminal warrants. In a statement, Tucows emphasized its commitment to free speech and expression online, while also asserting that it must comply with lawful requests. The company further clarified that it cannot disclose details about any ongoing investigations. Inquiries made to the FBI were met with an automatic response, indicating that the agency is not addressing most media questions during the ongoing government shutdown. The existence of the subpoena was first reported by the German news outlet Heise Online.