The Public Domain Review's 2022 essay, "The Kept and the Killed," examines the complex ethics of digital preservation. It contrasts what institutions choose to archive versus what they deliberately allow to disappear, framing the debate around cultural memory and historical access in the internet age.

This work matters because our digital heritage is fragile. Unlike physical artifacts, digital files degrade and formats become obsolete. The essay argues that curatorial decisions are not neutral; they actively shape which stories future generations can study, challenging the myth of the internet as a permanent, neutral archive.

The discussion is increasingly urgent as tech companies and libraries grapple with massive data stores. The essay provides a critical lens for developers and archivists building systems for long-term data retention, asking what technical and ethical frameworks we need to ensure meaningful access, not just storage, for digital assets.