WHO has the right to decide what information should be kept secret? That鈥檚 the vexatious question raised by WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange, who masterminded the publication of 75,000 classified military documents about the war in Afghanistan. The leak was unprecedented in size and scope.
Last week the that WikiLeaks remove all trace of the documents because they reveal the identity of NATO informants, which may endanger their lives. WikiLeaks responded with a .
Assange takes the view that 鈥渢he truth comes first鈥�, arguing that 鈥減rincipled leaking鈥� is essential for holding the powerful to account (see 鈥淛ulian Assange: The end of secrets?鈥�). There is merit in that argument, though the Pentagon has a point too.
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Assange鈥檚 evangelism would be more believable if he practised what he preaches. Even as WikiLeaks bangs the drum for transparency- and grows more powerful- Assange covers its workings in a veil of secrecy. You have to wonder how he would respond if, for example, the inner workings and funding of his own WikiLeaks were themselves leaked.