Julian Assange is an internet activist famous for his creation known as Wiki Leaks. Wiki Leaks is an international, online, self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers.
The aim of this site is to provide the public with important news and information, mainly political. Wiki Leaks boasts that they publish original source material alongside their news stories so readers and historians alike can see evidence of the truth. This provides support for Henry Jenkins’ view of ‘collective intelligence’, which states that collective human action and the ability to ‘collectively think’ about problems will enable them to be overcome. Social media provides a platform where society can have a say. It allows users with similar interests to connect and share information to achieve a common goal. However, some information should not be shared with the world. Some of the leaked information on this site could be a threat to national security, resulting in a risk to the general public. This isn’t to say that the public should be left in the dark, but it seems logical that we are not willing to risk our lives to know a secret.
One of the debates caused by Wiki Leaks occurred when a video was posted from a soldier in Iraq. The video showed an attack by an American helicopter that resulted in a number of Iraqis citizens being killed. The soldier who sent the video to Wiki Leaks resigned from service as he could no longer justify his reasons for being in Iraq. Obviously this sparked a heated debate, especially for those families with loved ones still fighting. If it is no longer appropriate for American and allied troops to be in Iraq, then they should be sent home. This kind of conclusion is quite controversial but it seems logical. Furthermore, the soldier who leaked the video was given 52years in prison for leaking national secrets. Is it a secret or is it the truth that we were not meant to find out about? If the purpose of our mission in Iraq is legitimate then why are the governments so quick to shut down footage and punish men for trying to let us all know what is going on. Without these people who risk their lives and their jobs to give truthful information to the world, we would not be able to make our own educated opinions. The war in Iraq seems to have no end. Why should we send our loved ones to war, especially one where the costs seem to outweigh the gains?
Therefore it is important to know particular information. According to Bertot, Jaeger and Grimes, social media is able to offer a contrasting view to balance the media coverage that has a reputation for misleading its viewers. But there is some information that should not be made public. Take for instance the Iraqi nationals who helped translate information for the U.S. military. This was obviously beneficial to the U.S. however Wiki Leaks posted the names of these Iraqi people on the internet which has put their lives at risk in their own country. Where do we draw the line amid what should and should not be leaked?
The internet has allowed everyone to become a citizen journalist and post the facts according to how they see it. However, to claim ultimate truth requires knowing all the facts. Maybe individuals need to think before they post and ask themselves the question, “Do I really know the whole story?” In some circumstances this may save someone’s life.
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