Coding Error Erases Parts of US Constitution From Website
â–¼ Summary
– The Library of Congress acknowledged a coding error caused parts of the US Constitution to be deleted from Congress’ website, promising a fix.
– Missing sections of Article 1 were identified by internet users and attributed to the coding error by the Library of Congress.
– The deleted portions were restored to one part of the website within hours and reappeared on another section shortly after.
– The Constitution Annotated website displayed a notice about ongoing data issues and apologized for the inconvenience.
– The Library of Congress emphasized the importance of digital resource upkeep but did not provide specifics about the coding error.
A technical glitch temporarily removed portions of the US Constitution from an official government website, sparking concerns before being swiftly addressed. The Library of Congress confirmed the disappearance of sections from Article 1 on its Constitution Annotated platform, attributing the issue to an unexpected coding error.
Visitors to constitution.congress.gov first noticed the blank spaces where critical constitutional text should have appeared. The Library acknowledged the problem publicly, stating teams were actively working on a solution. Within hours, the missing content gradually reappeared across different sections of the site, though a temporary notice warned users of ongoing “data issues” during restoration.
Officials emphasized their commitment to maintaining accurate digital archives, calling public reports about the error invaluable. While the exact cause of the coding mishap wasn’t disclosed, the Library assured users the problem had been fully resolved. The incident highlights the challenges of preserving foundational documents in digital formats, where even minor technical flaws can have significant visibility.
No further disruptions were reported after the fix, and the Constitution Annotated site now displays all sections as intended. The Library thanked those who flagged the issue, reinforcing the importance of collaborative oversight for such vital resources.
(Source: Ars Technica)
