Wikileaks Denied A Speaking Opportunity At UN Conference About Wikileaks?

from the perhaps-someone-will-leak-a-pass? dept

UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, is hosting a conference about The Media World after Wikileaks and News of the World. Sounds like it could be an interesting event, but one organization not happy about it... is Wikileaks. Seeing as it was a conference that touched on Wikileaks' interests directly, Wikileaks asked to take part, and was instead denied a chance to speak at the event. When asked about this, UNESCO actually claimed that choosing to not allow Wikileaks attendees was an exercise in "freedom of expression," which seems like a poor choice of words.

Of course, Wikileaks doesn't come out of this looking very good either. In unfortunately typical overstatement from Wikileaks, it tries to paint this as some big censorship issue, but that seems like an exaggeration. UNESCO noted that Julian Assange's legal advisor is taking part, as are numerous news organizations that partnered with Wikileaks. Wikileaks complains that even if Assange's legal counsel will be on one panel, there's no Wikileaks representation on other panels. Now, if I were organizing the event, I might use that as an opportunity to invite direct representatives of the site... if only for the fact that it would draw more interest to many of the discussions. However, beyond the irony of telling Wikileaks it can't speak at an event about Wikileaks, it really seems like the site is trying to make a bigger deal out of this than is justified.
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Filed Under: conference journalism, speaking, un, unesco
Companies: wikileaks


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  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:12pm

    Freedom of expression...freedom from expression...close enough.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:13pm

    but... but... censorship!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    al, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:19pm

    A SPECIAL THANKS to Mike, If I relied upon mainstream media for information about the internet, I would not know anything thats going on. I might have been as misled as politicians.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    gorehound (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:20pm

    I have no respect for UNESCO.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    :Lobo Santo (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:25pm

    TrollHard I - The Thickening!

    Well, it's not like we let Al Qaeda show up and speak at conferences about Al Qaeda, now do we?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:43pm

      Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

      Yes, bombs/guns/beheadings = wikileaks. Duffus

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        :Lobo Santo (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:44pm

        Re: Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

        (do you mind? I'm trying to do some trolling here...)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 2:01pm

          Re: Re: Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

          Just doing my counter part.

          If a Troll calls on the Internet and no one is around to respond, does it make a sound?

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            :Lobo Santo (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 2:04pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

            "If a Troll calls on the Internet and no one is around to respond, does it make a sound?"
            Yes it makes a sound; it sobs quietly to itself in the corner; whingeing occasionally about how nobody loves it....

            link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:46pm

        Re: Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

        WOOSH!

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      wowsers, 18 Feb 2012 @ 9:42am

      Re: TrollHard I - The Thickening!

      Yes

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:29pm

    i assume that the conference will be used to bash Wikileaks, just as certain people use every opportunity to bash Google. why should they not get chance to speak, especially if the bashing does happen? i doubt if you, Mike, would be particularly happy if Techdirt was to be discussed and possibly bashed, without having the chance to speak!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Catherine, 17 Feb 2012 @ 3:58am

      Re:

      Well you assumed wrong. I attended the conference (part of it, only yesterday), and i've only heard speakers defending the protection of sources and how journalists' and other news providers' issues are being modified, especially since cases such as WikiLeaks and News of the world occurred, which was the primary purpose. And all this, I should state, in front of a half empty room, when anybody was free to attend and participate in the debate. Representatives of WikiLeaks have not been banned, they have not been requested.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:32pm

    A very poor way of handling things, but I have a feeling the conference is looking at it like this is a conference about the state of security post-9-11, and the head of the world's largest terrorist organization is asking to speak there. Sure, it would add something, but not what the conference wants added.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      hmm (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:47pm

      Re:

      define "world's largest terrorist organization"..is that the one with the most kills or the most threats? USA #1 USA #1 USA #1 etc..../sigh

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        Marcel de Jong (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 4:29am

        Re: Re:

        The world's largest terrorist organisation with the most kills is the same as the one with the most threats ==> 'good ole' United States of America with its scumbag Congress and its presidents that don't change a thing.

        Or would anyone say that still having a prison at Guantanamo Bay is according to the Geneva Convention? Let's not forget about the so-called Patriot Act? And that country's leaders even terrorise their own citizens, with the threat that anyone could be detained without a charge brought forth.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      Niall (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 5:08am

      Re:

      I think that if the 'largest terrorist organisation' was only considered that by one government/organisation and a beacon of liberty by everyone else, it would be incredibly valuable to let them have their 15 minutes, at least.

      However, Wikileaks isn't considered a terrorist organisation by any anyone outside of the US State Department.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:36pm

    Well, it's not like we let Women show up and speak at conferences about Women's birth control, now do we?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Adam J, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:37pm

    This article is for all the asshats that think that Mike is too "one sided" or has a "hidden agenda". Look, he disagrees with Wikileaks claiming censorship. Take that, anonymous RIMDOJ cowards!

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:40pm

      Re:

      It's just too bad that Mike can't apply the same standards to his own hyperbole.

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:50pm

        Re: Re:

        Yawn.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        adamj (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:54pm

        Re: Re:

        If that were true, I don't think techdirt would be as popular as it is with this many registered users and readers who visit this site. Even if he does exaggerate from time to time, is that not his right to free speech? The legacy industries certainly exercise that right, daily. Plus, you're assuming that people don't have common sense and therefore just believe whatever Mike puts in front of us.
        You might believe that Mike uses hyperbole as a tool for deception and to dupe the weak minded, but alas, here you are posting on his site. lol

        link to this | view in chronology ]

        • identicon
          Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:54pm

          Re: Re: Re:

          Even if he does exaggerate from time to time,


          That would be from the TIME he first typed a word, to the present TIME...

          it's also more 'fabricate' and exaggerate... but you are right..

          Not all registered people on TD support TD, many are hear to readwhat wild claims mansick will come up with next..

          He wants to be the untimate spin artist, but just does not have to talent for it.

          link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 6:06pm

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Many are hear, but I am over their

            Mike came in first in the regional Top tournament, thats talent

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • identicon
            abc gum, 17 Feb 2012 @ 5:16am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Let me guess, fox is fair and balanced - amirite?

            link to this | view in chronology ]

          • icon
            bratwurzt (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 6:53am

            Re: Re: Re: Re:

            Sad. Just sad trolling. Maybe, if you had any sources of this defamation (spin artist? like spinning on his chair, when AC posts an uneducated comment on his blog? Then he is one hellofa spin-master-artist!)

            link to this | view in chronology ]

            • icon
              bratwurzt (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 6:56am

              Re: Re: Re: Re: Re:

              ...and there's a reason why you're posting as AC - you don't want your name to be actually assosiated with your posts. Correct me if I'm wrong.

              link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 4:01pm

      Re:

      the very fact you have commented on one of the rare times that masnick has ever made these types of comments, that you have to comment on it, is proof that you too believe masnick is one sided, and biased, and clearly has a hidden agenda..

      Fact is he still believes that wikileaks is important, and was a 'game changer' that is actually not the case, wikileaks had and is having virtually zero effect, it has not caused anyone to do anything differently, or anyone fired or punished..

      Wikileaks was a flop, that is why they are not invited to talk..

      link to this | view in chronology ]

      • identicon
        Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 8:20pm

        Re: Re:

        What world do you live in, Trollsylvania?

        Where the mantra is "I really, really, really, want to believe it, so it must be true."

        I wish I could live there too, life would be so less complicated, but I'd probably just wind up shooting myself.

        link to this | view in chronology ]

      • icon
        bratwurzt (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 7:15am

        Re: Re:

        "Fact is he still believes that wikileaks is important, and was a 'game changer' that is actually not the case, wikileaks had and is having virtually zero effect, it has not caused anyone to do anything differently, or anyone fired or punished.. "

        Wikileaks was a flop? In what way? Like Internet is a flop until these pesky google engineers implement gimme-money-many-times-for-the-same-horrible-service techy thingy on the internet, that will save the content industry (?) and with that the world!! It seems your bubble does not include news from... I don't know, the world? Middle east? Green revolution? Wikileaks ofcourse had nothing to do with that - it was all twitters fault that these strange men with strange beards are making your fuel more expensive!

        Hidden agenda? Clearly. His agenda is truth. I know - it is horrible - this truth thingy. You can't change it, it's stuck in its ways and that has to be changed. It would be so much easier to manipulate truth if only we would have a tool that would give power to select people for replacement of these pesky facts with something nicer. Hmmm, maybe Jacob Appelbaum could help - he has so much experience in these things and he looooves USA!

        Actual facts about your statement:
        1. You are not taken seriously because your english is worse than mine (and my native language is not english).
        2. You could have been taken more seriously if you had an account here.
        3. Stating your opinion on actual affairs does not make your statement the truth. If you do know that - then you're just seeking attention and an emotional response to further devaluate the debate (troll)

        link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Nastybutler77 (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:42pm

    As necessary as I believe Wikileaks is, they sure are quick to play the martyr card.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:48pm

      Re:

      it is a UN conference, not a door stop press conference. if as you say wikileaks is a journilist, then they should report the news, not be the news.. do you think they have asked any other news journilists to speak ?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • icon
    Michael (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:43pm

    Should have called it "Post-Digital Propoganda"

    "News Journalism in a Digital World" should include Wikileaks, because Wikileaks is digital journalism. Excluding Wikileaks is a political attempt to redefine journalism to be the restricted, government-approved dispersion of information.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      PlagueSD (profile), 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:59pm

      Re: Should have called it "Post-Digital Propoganda"

      So if journalism is to be defined as the restricted, government-approved dispersion of information. and propoganda is defined as follows:

      prop·a·gan·da/ˌpräpəˈgandə/
      Noun:
      1.Information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
      2.The dissemination of such information as a political strategy.



      So journalism = propaganda...I was wondering when this was going to happen!!!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:55pm

    I hope someone at the UN Conference does that headbob thing and fingersnapping, like a gangsta girl.

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Chris, 16 Feb 2012 @ 1:57pm

    Idiocy at work

    This must be most stupid thing I've heard about all week. How can the people of the UN be so stupid? Or is it a prerequisite in order to get there?

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 2:12pm

      Re: Idiocy at work

      This is the future of "world govt" - at odds with the world. Orwell was no momma's boy...

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 2:55pm

    "When asked about this, UNESCO actually claimed that choosing to not allow Wikileaks attendees was an exercise in "freedom of expression," which seems like a poor choice of words."

    Any trolls about?
    We apparantly have the "freedom of expression" to tell you to jog on

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:12pm

    Fuck it, if they're going out of their way to be fucktards, then we should out-fucktard them, someone should record the fucking meeting and release it on the internet for everyone to see/hear

    It'll serve them right, afterwards, we can say something stupid and unrelated like it was "freedom of expression,"

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:26pm

    so "freedom of expression," only applies to those few,

    What a stupid attempt to try and use our words against us, at least our trolls here put some effort into it

    You're talking about wikileaks, but wikileaks cant attend, because you have the right to express through freedom that you dont want wikileaks there to exercise their right to speak on the subject of wikileaks.........Yeah. OK. Sure! I buy that! Uh-huh!

    The more this happens the more aggro i feel, and i surely doubt im the only one

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    darryl, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:42pm

    Lets Face facts

    Wikileaks, was a comprehensive failure, ask yourself what has it really achieved ?

    Political damage was virtually zero, (pollies can do more damage to themselves that others can).

    Thousands of documents were leaks, is there any indication that this release really changed anything ?

    Did it provide anything information in it's leaked information that most people did not allready know, or have a strong suspician that would be occuring.

    Wikileaks got it's 15 minutes of fame, (at a high price), and really achieved nothing..

    Why would you want wikileaks to come and talk, when you know they dont really have anything to say!

    Wikileaks is old history,,,,,, next..

    link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 5:28pm

      Re: Lets Face facts

      If it's such a comprehensive failure then why even bother to discuss it?

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 5:33pm

      Re: Lets Face facts

      Wikileaks is old history,,,,,, next..

      The government strikes back

      ending with

      Return of the Wikileaks

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • icon
      bratwurzt (profile), 17 Feb 2012 @ 7:19am

      Re: Lets Face facts

      darryl, the only troll that works today. We had better - try harder!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

    • identicon
      Raphae1, 18 Feb 2012 @ 7:05am

      Re: Lets Face facts

      Sorry, but it seems, that you are very badly informed. It might be, that you don't like reading too much and believe the shit coming from the MSM esp. FOX networks.
      Did Wikileaks provide any information that most people did not already know? You betcha!

      link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 16 Feb 2012 @ 3:58pm

    "Did it provide anything information in it's leaked information that most people did not allready know, or have a strong suspician that would be occuring."


    Since your asking, yes, it actually did, and with that one lie, you've compromised you're entire comment, just like a good old, bad politician

    link to this | view in chronology ]

  • identicon
    Lola Heavey, 17 Feb 2012 @ 3:56am

    How come am I not surprised? What we are seeing is how deeply compromised all these global organizations really are. I really hope Julian Assange will keep going. He is one of the very few people that can stand up against some of the most powerful and shadowy government agencies.

    link to this | view in chronology ]


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