Julian Assange Doesn't Do Irony Well: Threatens His Own Internal Leakers With $20 Million Penalty
from the that-seems-just-a-little-hypocritical dept
It's no secret that Wikileaks' Julian Assange is a man of many contradictions, who has what appears to be a vindictive and angry streak against those who disagree with him on certain plans. However, now reports are coming out that he made his own associates sign an incredibly draconian non-disclosure agreement which threatens anyone who leaks documents from within Wikileaks with the potential for a $20 million penalty. I guess, you could argue that since he recognizes how much leaking goes on, that it makes sense to put in place extreme penalties. Of course, the alternative explanation that many seem to prefer is that he's just annoying, paranoid and, at times, more than a bit hypocritical.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: fines, julian assange, leaks
Companies: wikileaks
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The most harm to Wikileaks...
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Six Principles of Global Manipulation
Six Principles of Global Manipulation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fF3TQ0lJnU
and:
Anti-Qur'an Strategy of the Bible Project Wheeler-Dealers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1wXgXwj3MI
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It would also undermine Wikileak's claim to redact documents if someone from within the organization was releasing them unredacted.
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Or does it just mean that's what the cost to Wikileaks would potentially be?
Section talks of injunction and any other order a court my impose.. would they then be given an order to repay by the court?
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Most can't, however, which is why we all talk about Julian instead of Wikileaks, much to the detriment of what Wikileaks is trying to do....
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Who do you work for?
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My understanding
Even if he is all for freedom of knowledge, he probably is realistic enough to understand that certain knowledge can cost lives or he accepts certain knowledge with certain conditions.
Example. Some nut job may send him a list of SSNs with b-days, names and addresses. He may say "Don't release that info" even though someone on his team may say "but information should be free"
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http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2009-02/18/wikileaks-forced-to-leak-own-secret-inf o?page=all
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Are you really surprised?
It is a mad, mad, world!
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I do think this is ironic: Wikileaks opponents scream that "Wikileaks is dumping hundreds of thousands of documents and putting people in danger!" and then the same people scream about "irony" when it turns out Wikileaks makes people handling sensitive material sign a CDA to avoid releasing unredacted documents.
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So...
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The Answer is Obvious
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So, when people start labeling the organization as terrorists, murderers, and the like - it makes sense to try and present their practices in a mannerism as favorable as possible. Allowing anyone in the organization to freely disperse whatever information they may have on hand could easily jeopardize those efforts, or whatever trust current & potential leakers may have.
Now if someone came forth revealing information about persons or practices of malicious intent from within WikiLeaks itself and were then sued in return for doing so, it would be incredibly hypocritical.
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However, Assange is giving all his haters a valid reason to criticise him, and by extension, weaken Wikileaks' position.
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Maybe not, but considering the jack-booted thugs have 'interrogated' him, it wouldn't at all surprise me.
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If you really want a good insight into Wikileaks...
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20011106-281.html
Talks about John Young, the man who runs the CRYPTOME website, and his dealings with the "Wiki Management Team"
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Streaming on-demand: WikiLeaks
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Assange is the same as the Governments he is against.
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Re: Assange is the same as the Governments he is against.
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