WikiLeaks & Julian Assange: Radical Transparency

Founded in 2006 by Australian activist Julian Assange, WikiLeaks is a non-profit organization that publishes news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous sources. Its stated goal is to bring important information to the public, promoting transparency and holding powerful entities accountable.

In 2010, WikiLeaks gained international notoriety after it published a massive trove of U.S. military and diplomatic documents leaked by Chelsea Manning. These included the 'Collateral Murder' video, the Afghan War Diary, and the Iraq War Logs, which exposed sensitive details about military operations and foreign relations.

The publications sparked a global debate. Supporters hailed WikiLeaks as a new form of investigative journalism and a vital check on government power. Critics accused it of recklessly endangering lives and undermining national security. Assange himself became a highly controversial figure, eventually seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years before being arrested. The legacy of WikiLeaks is complex, having undeniably changed the landscape of whistleblowing, journalism, and the politics of information.

Timeline

• 2006WikiLeaks founded by Julian Assange.
• 2010Publishes the Afghan War Diary and Iraq War Logs, leaked by Chelsea Manning.