Writer's Block: The more you know

[drewkitty]

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Interesting assumptions in the question. Web sites are operated by people. People are responsible for their actions. So I would rephrase the question as:

"Should people be allowed to share confidential corporate and government information with the public?"

No. People are responsible for their actions -- including those who work for corporations and for governments. There is no right to "share" other people's information.

Wikileaks has endangered the national security of the United States and sabotaged important diplomatic and peace-building efforts. A strong case could be made that Wikileaks has killed people. Wikileaks has also revealed important details of corporate and governmental misconduct.

I do not feel that the good has outweighed the bad.

Comments

[ihuitl.livejournal.com]

I think public disclosure is a valid last resort of genuine whistle-blowing worthy information, when normal channels are unable or unwilling to work. However, the information disclosed must be specific and relevant to the actual wrongdoing.

Taking a shotgun blast of thousands of cables is irresponsible; not onyl that, Assange himself edited ('collateral murder') or blocked the release of many documents, which means instead of a democratic method of information release he allegedly champions, he is simply the next Minister of What You Really Should Know. He's out for his own aggrandizement and his belief in a world without secrets - heedless of the damage that causes.