What is WikiLeaks like? WikiLeaks reviews and website information

WikiLeaks, also known as WikiLeaks, is an international non-profit media organization founded by Australian Internet activist Julian Paul Assange in December 2006 and operated by The Sunshine Press. The purpose of WikiLeaks is to make public documents leaked from anonymous sources and the Internet, especially those involving confidential documents of governments, enterprises and other institutions. Since its establishment, WikiLeaks has aroused widespread attention and controversy around the world by publishing a large number of these confidential documents.

Background of WikiLeaks

Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is a computer programmer, journalist and internet activist. He made his mark in the computer field in Australia in his early years and is known for his expertise in network security and encryption technology. Assange has a strong belief in freedom of information and transparency, and believes that the public has the right to know about the misconduct of governments and companies. It is based on this belief that he decided to create a platform where those who dare to reveal the truth can publish sensitive information anonymously without fear of retaliation.

WikiLeaks was launched in December 2006. The initial goal of the website was to protect the anonymity of sources through technical means and ensure that leaked documents could be quickly disseminated to the public. WikiLeaks's operating model is similar to Wikipedia, where anyone can submit documents, but the WikiLeaks team will review and verify these documents to ensure their authenticity and importance.

How WikiLeaks works

WikiLeaks' operating model is based on several core principles:

1. Anonymity : WikiLeaks uses advanced encryption technology to protect the identity of sources. Users who submit documents can communicate with WikiLeaks through anonymous tools such as the Tor network to ensure that their identities will not be revealed.
2. Transparency : WikiLeaks' goal is to increase transparency in government and business. By publishing confidential documents, WikiLeaks forces these institutions to be accountable for their actions and encourages public participation in oversight.
3. Independence : WikiLeaks is a non-profit organization that does not accept funding from any government or enterprise. Its operating funds mainly come from individual donations and crowdfunding to ensure its independence and impartiality.

The WikiLeaks team is made up of journalists, technicians and legal experts from all over the world. They are responsible for reviewing the submitted documents, ensuring their authenticity and importance, and publishing them on the WikiLeaks website. The WikiLeaks website is designed to be simple, allowing users to easily browse and download documents. In addition, WikiLeaks also cooperates with other media to translate important documents into multiple languages ​​and report on them worldwide.

Important events of WikiLeaks

Since its inception, WikiLeaks has released many documents with significant impact, sparking widespread attention and controversy around the world. The following are some of the important events of WikiLeaks:

1. Iraq War Diary

In 2010, WikiLeaks released a file called "Iraq War Logs," which contained more than 390,000 classified documents about the Iraq War. These documents detailed the actions of the US military in Iraq, including civilian casualties, torture of prisoners, and other war crimes. The release of the Iraq War Logs sparked a global response, with many calling for an investigation into the actions of the US military.

2. Afghanistan War Diary

In the same year, WikiLeaks also released the "Afghanistan War Diaries", which contained more than 75,000 confidential documents about the Afghan War. These documents revealed the US military operations in Afghanistan, including accidental killings of civilians, covert operations and other unknown events. The release of the Afghan War Diaries further intensified people's doubts about the US war in Afghanistan.

3. U.S. diplomatic cables

In November 2010, WikiLeaks began to release a file called "US Diplomatic Cables", which contained more than 250,000 confidential cables from the US State Department. These cables involved the diplomatic relations between the United States and other countries, including evaluations of leaders of various countries, secret negotiations and other sensitive information. The release of the US diplomatic cables triggered a diplomatic crisis around the world, with many countries expressing dissatisfaction with the US's actions and demanding an explanation from the US.

4. Hillary Clinton’s Emails

During the 2016 US presidential election, WikiLeaks released a large number of emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign team. These emails revealed the inner workings of Hillary's campaign team, including its relationship with the media, campaign strategies, and other sensitive information. After the release of Hillary Clinton's emails, it sparked widespread controversy and had a significant impact on the US election.

Controversies and Challenges of WikiLeaks

Although WikiLeaks has attracted widespread attention around the world, its operation methods and the content it publishes have also caused many controversies and challenges. The following are some of the main issues facing WikiLeaks:

1. Legal issues

WikiLeaks's publishing behavior is considered illegal in many countries. The U.S. government and other countries have taken legal action against WikiLeaks in an attempt to prevent it from publishing confidential documents and hold it accountable. In 2010, the U.S. government issued an arrest warrant for Julian Assange, charging him with violating the Espionage Act. Assange was subsequently arrested in the UK and faces the risk of extradition to the United States.

2. Ethical issues

WikiLeaks's publishing behavior has also sparked ethical controversy. Some people believe that by releasing confidential documents, WikiLeaks may endanger national security and even threaten the lives of innocent civilians. For example, the release of the Iraq War Diary and the Afghanistan War Diary may put American soldiers and civilians in greater danger.

3. Source of Funding

The source of WikiLeaks' funding has also sparked some controversy. Although WikiLeaks claims that it does not accept funding from any government or company, its funding source remains opaque. Some people suspect that WikiLeaks may have received secret funding from some countries or organizations to influence its published content.

4. Internal conflicts

There are also some contradictions within WikiLeaks. In 2016, some former members of WikiLeaks publicly criticized Julian Assange's leadership style, believing that he was too arbitrary and ignored other members of the team. These internal contradictions have had a certain impact on the operation of WikiLeaks.

The impact of WikiLeaks

Despite facing many controversies and challenges, WikiLeaks still has a profound impact around the world. The following are some of the main impacts of WikiLeaks:

1. Increase transparency

By releasing confidential documents, WikiLeaks has forced governments and companies to be accountable for their actions and increased transparency. Under pressure from WikiLeaks, many countries have been forced to release some previously confidential documents and explain their actions.

2. Promote press freedom

WikiLeaks's releases have also promoted the development of press freedom. Many media have begun to follow WikiLeaks's example and expose the government and companies by publishing confidential documents.