WikipediaLeaks

By: Seth Moore

• A Wiki is a user generated/edited website usually to serve a specific purpose

• The purpose of wikileaks is to bring often silenced subjects to light.

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19

• It is mostly anonymous because of the serious matter of the leaks and fear of legal issues. The site says it is “founded by Chinese dissidents, journalists, mathematicians and start-up company technologists, from the US, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and South Africa”

• Centered in Iceland because of their laws protecting free speech and the freedom of information.

• Julian Assange as public representitive

WHAT IS WIKILEAKS?

L

eaks are submitted anonymously

W

ikileaks uses investigative journalism,

thorough examination of the submitted

documents, and forensic analyses of

documents to verify

P

ublishes original source material so

public can see the truth

W

elcomes community input and analysis

B

ring truth to the people

HOW IT WORKS

Why is this important?Why is this important?

Many countries work

Many countries work

to censor WikiLeaks

to censor WikiLeaks ““Only a free and

Only a free and unrestrained press can

unrestrained press can

effectively expose

effectively expose deception in

deception in government.”

government.” Information can

Information can reduce corruption,

reduce corruption, strengthen democracy

strengthen democracy

– Exposing injustice

– Exposing injustice

leads to a better life

leads to a better life

Scientology’s Operating Thetan Levels Bank Julius Baer 9/11 Messages Guantanamo Bay Operating Procedures Iraq War documents Kroll Report and corruption in Kenya (2.17

– 4.20)

Complaints of harassment and surveillance; Threats from governments

Verification of stories is difficult and not always definitive

Much of the information is important towards national security. What if sensitive material was leaked? What if one country’s enemies could use leaked information against them?

Legal ramifications of leaks: Sarah Palin’s personal emails; Bank Julius Baer lawsuit

The Dangers of WikiLeaks

The Future of WikiLeaks

Julian Assange’s recent Legal issues: an attempt to take focus off of WikiLeaks and on to Assange. Many see it as a set-up to ruin WikiLeaks; “smear campaign”

Possible move to Switzerland

Candidate for Time’s person of the year

Why Should We Care? Free press is important for a free world

Many people don’t have someone to speak up for them

Injustice is always happening

Freedom of information can save lives and it can change lives

Spreads freedom

• http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7094234.ece

• http://www.wikileaks.org/media/about.html• http://www.cnn.com/video/#/

video/world/2010/10/25/intv.shubert.assange.full.intv.cnn?iref=allsearch

• http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/• http://

www.ted.com/talks/julian_assange_why_the_world_needs_wikileaks.html

• http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1424207020071114?pageNumber=1

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/world/24assange.html?_r=1

• http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/world/middleeast/24surge.html

• http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2010/10/22/130760662/wikileaks-begins-exposing-400-000-u-s-documents-about-the-iraq-war