Jihadi internet users are using the Internet Archive, an American website that documents web history, to pass information and media. A report by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) outlines how al-Qaida and its supporters have used the website, which is also popular with American law enforcement and the Library of Congress.

The report notes that Al-Qaida and other jihadis "are continually and increasing using the Internet Archive to spread their propaganda/recruitment messages." Posting to the site requires only virtual library card, which can be secured by having a valid email address. And although the Internet Archive has not replaced other downloading services like 2Shared and Multiupload, it has become an increasingly popular option.

The types of materials uploaded to the archive include video and audio files, accounts of attacks, and major jihadi publications. These files are meant to encourage attacks or reinforce the jihadi world view, as well as to document the rapid expansion of jihadi media.

It's an ironic use of a website meant for a noble cause. "Libraries exist to preserve society's cultural artifacts and to provide access to them. If libraries are to continue to foster education and scholarship in this era of digital technology, it's essential for them to extend those functions into the digital world," the Archive's "About Us" page reads. However, jihadis have also seen the site as a tool for education and preserving their own culture.