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CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

simonwillison.net

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Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#11

Post by bluGill »

regenschutz wrote: post #8
quietsegfault wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why?

Because intelligence agencies generally have a vested interest in spreading subtle propaganda, such as by distorting facts. Now, I have yet to see any cases of the CIA doing this to the World Factbook, since that would tank its credibility, but I also don't browse the Factbook too often.

They have multiple competing interests. One of their interests is telling the truth to their local military and politicians - getting caught in a lie to their side is the worst that could happen to them.

The world factbook was mostly things that the military or politicians might care about the truth of, and data they need anyway. Mostly what is there were things where there wouldn't be much value in spreading lies - and what value that might have is outweighed by you can fact check everything (with a lot of work) so lies are likely to be caught.

Not saying they are perfect, but this isn't a place where I would expect they would see distorting facts help them.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#12

Post by RajT88 »

regenschutz wrote: post #10
SilverElfin wrote: post #2

[flagged]

It was updated weekly. Constantly writing and maintaining so much information is almost certainly very expensive. Coupled with the fact that you have to be very careful before releasing each edit to make sure that no accidental personal beliefs or theories slip by (as that would be a diplomatic catastrophe), I reckon the cost of maintaining the thing could be very high. I would wager that they're still going to maint…

Your definition of "very high" costs likely don't align with what you think of when you think of "very high" government spending. NASA's 25 billion dollar budget for 2025 was a paltry ~.4% of the total government budget.

Wikimedia foundation's operating budget is 207 million a year - a drop in the ocean of federal budgets, if Factbook was similar.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#13

Post by scarecrowbob »

Damn I wish the waning of US soft power felt like a positive thing to me; the CIA, along with the DEA, has been one of the more powerful criminal networks on the planet since its inception in the mid 20th C.

It doesn't feel like the US gov is moving away from the soft-power/understated action stuff because the US gov is somehow committed to being less evil.

It feels to me like they don't feel like it's as useful as the application simple hard power.

That feels a little horrifying to me.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#16

Post by SECProto »

RajT88 wrote: post #12
regenschutz wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It was updated weekly. Constantly writing and maintaining so much information is almost certainly very expensive. Coupled with the fact that you have to be very careful before releasing each edit to make sure that no accidental personal beliefs or theories slip by (as that would be a diplomatic catastrophe), I reckon the cost of maintaining the thing could be very high. I would wager that they're still going to maint…

Your definition of "very high" costs likely don't align with what you think of when you think of "very high" government spending. NASA's 25 billion dollar budget for 2025 was a paltry ~.4% of the total government budget. Wikimedia foundation's operating budget is 207 million a year - a drop in the ocean of federal budgets, if Factbook was similar.

> NASA's 25 billion dollar budget for 2025 was a paltry ~.04% of the total government budget.

I'm sorry, I think you have a math or data error here. The US government budget for 2025 was not $62.5 trillion dollars.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#18

Post by supjeff »

scarecrowbob wrote: post #13

Damn I wish the waning of US soft power felt like a positive thing to me; the CIA, along with the DEA, has been one of the more powerful criminal networks on the planet since its inception in the mid 20th C. It doesn't feel like the US gov is moving away from the soft-power/understated action stuff because the US gov is somehow committed to being less evil. It feels to me like they don't feel like it's as useful as t…

How much do we believe the current administration values "intelligence"? For the most part, the truth is trump's enemy. as far as he can control it, it's better for his to be the only authoritative voice. If he says Australia is full of muslims and bad hombres, he doesn't need the CIA contradicting him.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#19

Post by learingsci »

scarecrowbob wrote: post #13

Damn I wish the waning of US soft power felt like a positive thing to me; the CIA, along with the DEA, has been one of the more powerful criminal networks on the planet since its inception in the mid 20th C. It doesn't feel like the US gov is moving away from the soft-power/understated action stuff because the US gov is somehow committed to being less evil. It feels to me like they don't feel like it's as useful as t…

One can view the defensive realist perspective as another application of the 80/20 rule. It’s all economics. Debt determines many outcomes.

Re: CIA suddenly stops publishing, removes archives of The World Factbook

#20

Post by dundarious »

There was a website redesign under the Biden administration that lost a lot of important historical information as well. For example, the CIA in-house historian had a book review about the overthrow of the Mosaddegh government in Iran in the 50s, and the CIA/MI6 role in that coup.
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