Politicians Investigating Leaks Sites... Not Leaks
from the you're-doing-it-wrong dept
It was rumored recently that some politicians were going to investigate Wikileaks for some leaked documents that were posted there. The details weren't clear, and I was hoping something was lost in the translation, and they meant that the politicians would be investigating the leaks not the site Wikileaks for posting it. No such luck apparently. Three Congressional Reps have apparently asked Homeland Security what can be done about sites that post leaked documents, including not just Wikileaks, but Cryptome as well. In the letter to Homeland Security, they basically suggest that if needed, they'll put forth legislation that would make reposting such content illegal, which could create one hell of a First Amendment legal battle at some point. Either way, these politicians are focused on the wrong things. The problems aren't these sites, which are just service providers for the information. The problems are the leaks of info themselves.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: blame, cryptome, homeland security, leaks, messenger, wikileaks
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Feynman's maxim
see more maxims at...
http://www.ne.anl.gov/capabilities/vat/seals/maxims.html
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Re: Feynman's maxim
That being what it is, I'm still perplexed by not only the desire to go after the leak publishers instead of the leak-makers...
...but what about the malfeasance the leak exposes? No discussion on the legality of the leaked action and the benefit that the leak provides to correct misdeeds in government?
Of course not. Let's not use the information to bust more prostitutes, let's just bring up Craigslist on charges and make prostitution even harder to correct.
That's thinkin' for ya'...
(the reason for all this I suspect? Some might be surprised at the level of complicity by officials in both examples. Shutting down the ability to view misdeeds in broad daylight is probably in the best interest of certain well placed individuals.)
CBMHB
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dificult to stop
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Re: dificult to stop
Plus then we get to point and say MYTHIC FAIL! when they try to play wack a mole
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Kill the Messenger
First amendment covers this hopefully. Also, isn't there some sort of law which provides protection to a whistle blower ... oh yeah, that only protects against corporate retribution not government.
Get a load of that guy in the picture - they make him look like Adolf. Pretty funny.
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Makes you wonder
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Difference
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Re: Difference
Very true, though some of us believe that "classified information" needs to be done away with entirely. Just be open and honest. No need to hide troop movements beyond not broadcasting them. No need for spies and all that nonsense. I'd rather my country be open and weak, than closed and strong...
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Re: Re: Difference
Okay, I'm all for openness, but that's just silly. The Internet is global. "Not hiding" is exactly the same thing as broadcasting. If our enemy can determine our troops' positions at will, then yeah, we have a problem.
"I'd rather my country be open and weak, than closed and strong..."
How about a happy medium? "Open and weak" could easily become "closed and ruled by someone else." I do not agree with the war in Iraq. I believe that war should be used only as a last resort. But, when it is used, we better be damned good at it. Like it or not, freedom does require defense. Giving enemies free and open access to our strategies and tactics is not going to help us at all. It's going to cause a lot of soldiers, who are real, valuable people just like you and me, to die.
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Re: Re: Re: Difference
Secret documents in a democracy infuriate me....
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Re: Re: Re: Difference
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Any media (including websites) should not be in any legal position to push out secret or secure government documents with impunity. The act of sharing the document is pretty much as bad as the original leaker. In many cases, it is worse, because it means that the document ends up widely distributed.
oh yeah, sorry, 230 230 230 230 230 230 230 230! Riiiight!
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Which is usually orders of magnitude better than keeping it secret.
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Nope, these politicians are perfectly focused on protecting their campaign financiers.
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Re:
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Congress
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Now, I never saw the job, nor did I see postings in question. However, I think it's weird when the head of a consolidated set of departments may need to post entire operational manuals online for all to see.
Kinda weird.
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The Leaks...
Plans detailing the next push in our non-congress declared war? Should be kept secret until it happens.
List of names of people engaged in espionage or monetizing activities, names of people undercover? Secret.
List of protected witnesses and their locations? Secret.
The number of people put under wiretaps without court permission? Hell no.
A treaty that will change every aspect of copyright? NO.
Unclassified manual that you want to keep secret anyways? Getting luke warm, at best.
Historical documents that cover the fumbling and panic of the 9/11 attacks? NO.
Unless the information is secret (and classified) to protect the lives of soldiers, witnesses, or undercover workers, or otherwise directly hold the means to kill a person (DIRECTLY, not indirectly like the screening guidelines) IT SHOULD NOT BE SECRET FROM THE PEOPLE.
The problem isn't the leaks of info, it is the fact that there is information to leak. It is the belief that hidden info is the right way to protect against technological failures. And it is the thought that keeping information secret to prevent embarrassment is OK.
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Re: The Leaks...
I do hope the law and the process changes. But, in the meantime, I also don't want every rogue with access to docs feeling that they, as either smart or stupid individuals (there are examples of both with clearance), can decide which should be released without fear of repercussions.
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It should be clear by now that the U.S. is not good at innovation or doing anything good for its people. The only thing it's good at is lobbying and suppressing the truth and the U.S. has an advanced ability to accomplish these endeavors.
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The government, who is SUPPOSED to represent the PEOPLE, should not be allowed to hide information from the public with impunity.
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Amazing
Of course they don't bother to explain how the public is supposed to know what stuff on a government web site is there by mistake and what stuff is not. I guess you'll find out when they arrive at your home with a warrant and an indictment.
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Wikileaks is great
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Study on TSA Manual releases effects on holiday travel
http://www.mediacurves.com/NationalMediaFocus/J7673-AirportScreeningManual/Index.cfm
Thanks,
Ben
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Re: Study on TSA Manual releases effects on holiday travel
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if youre not doing anything wrong you dont have anything to worry about when it comes to leaked documents!
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Something to ponder...
-Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair
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leaks
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And why am I feeling like the leaks themselves aren't a problem either, but are actually one of the guarantees we're still living in a democracy? Leaks and leakers are good for our society, and therefore should be protected, not hunted down.
By the way, aren't these douches so prone to tell us "if you're not doing anything bad, you don't have to fear being watched"?
Leaks guarantee transparency, which guarantees democracy, I challenge you to prove the contrary
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