Before the internet you would have to go to a library to read a book you didn't want to purchase. Libraries are still a thing. You can still go there to borrow a book, read it, and return it, so that others can read it.
The only difference here is the magnitude of access, where publishers weren't very concerned with at the local library level for token public good, but are very much now alarmed with, in that the internet can distribute content to everyone all the time, content they were very much hoping to continue to monetize.
It's information gatekeeping, but no one is going to tell the publishing industry they might as well fold up shop and stop publishing because they can't make any money at it any longer.