iJohn Report

Is WikiLeaks freedom of expression or just plain theft?

WikiLeaks, we have found out, but not wholly a big surprise in the tech community, that the same crew who help the Pirate Bay are also hosting for them.  I read this article at Fox News, and it raised a question in my mind.  Is this freedom of expression?  Where is the line?  Is there a line?

Sweden has some of the most protective laws pertaining to “freedom of expression” and protecting whistleblowers.  Iceland also have passed sweeping laws protecting the same.

I guess everyone has their interpretation of what a “whistleblower” is.  For me, it’s someone who has personal first hand knowledge of wrongdoing and feels the need to right that wrong, not for publicity or personal gain.  They go to a group or body that legally protects them from attack or repercussion for doing so.  We have whistleblower laws in the US, which protects people both in the corporate world and within government.  They must take the correct steps to right the wrong in the correct manner, through law makers and protectors, our federal government, even when it may be elements within the government that is doing wrong.  We can argue all day on the feds and their roles as protectors, that’s a discussion for another day.

WikiLeaks founder and editor, Julian Assange has said he does this to change current policies and direction in Afghanistan.  That is not being a whistle-blower, not even close.  Whistle-blowers try to stop what they believe to be illegal.  Wanting to shape policy of another country is not your place Julian, I don’t think any US citizen with a right to vote gave you that power.  These are decisions for the American people and their elected officials to decide.

No, his motives are not that high and mighty.  I’m sure he hates all the publicity he and his site are getting.  I’m sure he also hates all the loonies and anarchists who are drooling over him and what he’s doing.  He loves the attention, and it’s nothing about to better anything.

UPDATE: Even human rights groups are understanding what he’s doing is dangerous.  Without blanking out names, he’s putting countless Afghani people who are helping in danger.  There are reasons these sort of documents are not published for all to see.  There are many details of operations and names of people who are put in danger because of it.  His response… The rights group should help in blanking out the names.  Wait, Mr. Assange, you want them to do a job you’re too lazy to do.  If you were so worried and had a higher motive, why would you push it onto someone else to do.

His actions give all others who annually take real chances and are real whistle-blowers and have good motives in doing so, and do it the right way.

UPDATE 2 (August 23 2010): So, Julian Assange and Wikileaks seek transparency from government and corporations?  They want this, yet they keep their own funding secret.  From reading this story, they register themselves in any way possible to avoid paying taxes and hide the money and where it’s coming from.  Hello pot, this is kettle.