Last week we talked about Wikileaks, since we've all brought in news stories that are connected to issues about freedom of information and state security or personal privacy.
In discussing Wikileaks, we noted the key issues that have arisen in the United States around Wikileaks disclosures. Namely:
- Conduct of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- Treatment of those held at Guantanamo
- The National Security Agency
Japan has also had important disclosures via Wikileaks. Most recently, in January 2014, Wikileaks published documents about the secret negotiations surrounding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Another key disclosure was about the Japanese government withholding correct information about U.S. military bases in Japan. Also, one can find on Wikileaks how the number of trafficked persons in Japan has been under-reported and under-investigated.
An article that helped us understand the history behind Wikileaks was this one. It describes "three stages" of Wikileaks development:
2006 (Wikileaks birth as a "whistleblower site") to 2010:
Wikileaks served as a true "wiki," in which public readership posted and edited materials. It became controversial when censored websites were also included.
April 2010 to November 2010:
Wikileaks took a political position in releasing "Collateral Murder" video in April 2010. In July of that year it released the Afghan War Diary and in October the Iraq War Logs (the largest leak of U.S. military secrets in history).
From November 2010:
Wikileaks has worked with major news sources to analyze, redact, publish U.S. State diplomatic cables.
The social value of Wikileaks is hotly debated. We have also discussed the State Secrets Law in Japan, and the potential social value / danger of "whistleblowing." What do you think? Does the existence of a website like Wikileaks produce more positive or negative effects? How do you think it is best to operate such a site?
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