WikiLeaks
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Have you ever heard of it?
What is it?
What is it?
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WikiLeaks is a not-for-profit media organization. Our goal is to
bring important news and information to the public. We provide
an innovative, secure and anonymous way for sources to leak
information to our journalists. One of our most important
activities is to publish original source material alongside our
news stories so readers and historians alike can see evidence of
the truth. We are a young organization that has grown very
quickly, relying on a network of dedicated volunteers around the
globe. Since 2007, when the organization was officially
launched, WikiLeaks has worked to report on and publish
important information.
What is it?
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The broader principles on which our work is based are the
defense of freedom of speech and media publishing, the
improvement of our common historical record and the support
of the rights of all people to create new history. We derive these
principles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In
particular, Article 19 inspires the work of our journalists and
other volunteers. It states that everyone has the right to freedom
of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless of
frontiers.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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WikiLeaks has combined high-end security technologies with
journalism and ethical principles. Like other media outlets conducting
investigative journalism, we accept anonymous sources of information.
Unlike other outlets, we provide a high security anonymous drop box
fortified by cutting-edge cryptographic information technologies. This
provides maximum protection to our sources. We are fearless in our
efforts to get the unvarnished truth out to the public. When
information comes in, our journalists analyze the material, verify it and
write a news piece about it describing its significance to society. We
then publish both the news story and the original material in order to
enable readers to analyze the story in the context of the original source
material themselves. Our news stories are in the comfortable
presentation style of Wikipedia, although the two organizations are not
otherwise related. Unlike Wikipedia, random readers can not edit our
source documents.
TOPICS LEAKED?
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War, killings, torture and detention
Government, trade and corporate transparency
Suppression of free speech and a free press
Diplomacy, spying and (counter-)intelligence
Ecology, climate, nature and sciences
Corruption, finance, taxes, trading
Censorship technology and internet filtering
Cults and other religious organizations
Abuse, violence, violation
Importance
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Why do you think WikiLeaks is
important?
How could it benefit citizens around the
world?
Why would governments and
corporations be wary of WikiLeaks?
Importance
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Today, with authoritarian governments in power in
much of the world, increasing authoritarian
tendencies in democratic governments, and
increasing amounts of power vested in unaccountable
corporations, the need for openness and transparency
is greater than ever. WikiLeaks interest is the
revelation of the truth. Unlike the covert activities of
state intelligence agencies, as a media publisher
WikiLeaks relies upon the power of overt fact to
enable and empower citizens to bring feared and
corrupt governments and corporations to justice.
Problems
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Why might some people view WikiLeaks
negatively?
What could be some possible negative
effects that occur due to the leaking of
sensitive information to WikiLeaks?
Video
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Watch
Example Leaks
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Thinking about an eventual collapse of North Korea: American
and South Korean officials have discussed the prospects for a
unified Korea, should the North economic troubles and political
transition lead the state to implode. The South Koreans even
considered commercial inducements to China, according to the
American ambassador to Seoul. She told Washington in
February that South Korean officials believe that the right
business deals would help ease China’s concerns about living
with a reunified Korea that is in a benign alliance with the
United States.
Example
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A global computer hacking effort: China Politburo directed the
intrusion into Google computer systems in that country, a
Chinese contact told the American Embassy in Beijing in
January, one cable reported. The Google hacking was part of a
coordinated campaign of computer sabotage carried out by
government operatives, private security experts and Internet
outlaws recruited by the Chinese government. They have broken
into American government computers and those of Western
allies, the Dalai Lama and American businesses since 2002,
cables said.
Example
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Mixed records against terrorism: Saudi donors
remain the chief financiers of Sunni militant groups
like Al Qaeda, and the tiny Persian Gulf state of
Qatar, a generous host to the American military for
years, was the worst in the region in counterterrorism
efforts, according to a State Department cable last
December. Qatar security service was hesitant to act
against known terrorists out of concern for appearing
to be aligned with the U.S. and provoking reprisals,
the cable said.
WikiLeaks
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What are some things you’ve learned
from our discussion and/or the video?
What is your personal opinion on
WikiLeaks now that you’ve learned
about it?