[AndrewC]

It is only a plate unless there is a mind that can decipher the etching on the plate as useful information. The plate did not “gain” or “lose” information - it is just an etched plate to anything without a mind to translate the two dimensional etchings into a three dimensional image of the creatures that sent the probe.

Oh come on now, that is ridiculous. The dictionary contains information despite being unread. You may wish otherwise, but that is a fact. You conflate communication with information.

[allmendream]

Information is only information in a context where a message is understandable in a common language.

A dictionary of a language that nobody can read anymore contains no information until you give it to someone who can read it.

Similarly DNA is written in a “language” that makes no sense at all outside the context of a ribosome and tRNA “translation key”.

If the “language” of the “translation key” were changed, the “information” would be changed. Thus there IS no unchangeable unambiguous “information” outside a context that gives it meaning.