We’ve all heard at some point or another about some document being leaked and ruining a plot, a conspiracy or a career. What if a global repository was created that allowed the world over to pick apart these leaked documents, documenting their veracity or their fallacy?
Enter Wikileaks …
Wikileaks is developing an uncensorable Wikipedia for untraceable mass document leaking and analysis. Our primary interests are oppressive regimes in Asia, the former Soviet bloc, Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, but we also expect to be of assistance to those in the west who wish to reveal unethical behavior in their own governments and corporations. We aim for maximum political impact; this means our interface is identical to Wikipedia and usable by non-technical people. We have received over 1.2 million documents so far from dissident communities and anonymous sources.
It’s not live yet (apparently its existence was leaked before it was ready for public scrutiny) but it looks like an interesting endeavour – one well worth watching.
I have been following this Wikileaks idea and I am going to side with the skeptics on this one.
The idea sounds great, but I fear that it is going to turn into another spin machine for the global politicians. Because of the attempts to keep the sources anonymous (using software developed originally by US Navy) it will be the perfect platform for derailing a campaign. Throw out a few defaming “leaks”, true or otherwise and there you go.
There is also the use by corrupt governments to counter mine the original intent. Imagine how long a member of a dissident faction would survive if a list of double agents with his name on it was “leaked”.
Unfortunately in this case I don’t think the WWW will save the world, but I hope to be disproved.