ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the questions as to what counts as digital heritage, what should be protected and by whom, and how the decisions on selecting heritage-to-be ought to be made. Arguably, such questions have become more acute and complex than ever before, not only due to the unprecedented quantity and variety of content but also due to the rise of new actors and intermediaries. Simultaneously, the centrality of digital content in the everyday lives of individuals means that protection of digital content – or at least of a representative sample thereof – is a must if an adequate record of contemporary life is to be preserved for posterity. The focus of this chapter is on born-digital content that originates from online interactions or is used to host and structure such interactions (e.g., virtual environments), that is, mundane heritage as everyday practices of today’s digital-by-default life. Here, contemporary societies are again at a crossroads, facing crucial choices regarding the role and purpose of AI in shaping not just the present but also the future.
