Julian Assange Unveiled: The Enigmatic Force Behind WikiLeaks

Julian Assange 101

Julian Assange is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who is best known as the founder of #WikiLeaks , a platform that publishes news leaks and classified media provided by anonymous sources. Born on July 3, 1971, in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, Assange has been a prominent figure in the global conversation on freedom of information, transparency, and the public’s right to know.

Julian Assange is seen as a champion of the free press and a crusader for truth in an era where government secrecy and corporate control over information are rampant. Assange and WikiLeaks have been credited with bringing to light numerous instances of government and corporate malfeasance, human rights abuses, and corruption through their publication of classified, censored, or otherwise restricted information.

Key publications by WikiLeaks under Assange's direction include the #CollateralMurderVideo (April 2010), which showed US helicopter pilots killing 12 people in Baghdad in 2007; the Afghanistan war logs (July 2010), revealing various aspects of the war in Afghanistan not previously disclosed to the public; the Iraq war logs (October 2010), disclosing numerous reports on the Iraq War, including counts of civilian deaths; and #CableGate (November 2010), a release of more than 250,000 US State Department diplomatic cables.

Assange’s work has sparked significant controversy and debate. Proponents argue that his actions have highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability, particularly in governments and powerful institutions. They assert that WikiLeaks has played a critical role in the fight for human rights and the freedom of the press by exposing wrongdoing and enabling whistleblowers to share the truth with the world.

Despite facing legal challenges and controversies, including accusations of sexual misconduct in Sweden (which were later dropped) and a long-standing legal battle to avoid extradition to the United States, where he faces charges under the Espionage Act for the 2010 leaks, Assange’s supporters view him as being unjustly persecuted for his role in facilitating the publication of leaked information. They argue that the actions taken against him are politically motivated attempts to silence a dissident voice and set a chilling precedent for journalists and whistleblowers worldwide.

Since 2012, Assange took refuge in the Embassy of Ecuador in London to avoid extradition to Sweden over the sexual assault allegations, and thereafter to avoid extradition to the US. In April 2019, he was arrested after the Ecuadorian government withdrew his asylum, and he has since been fighting extradition to the United States while being detained in Belmarsh Prison in London.

Supporters of Assange view him as a martyr for the cause of transparency and free speech, arguing that his case is a litmus test for the freedom of the press and the public’s right to know in the digital age. They emphasize the importance of defending Assange and WikiLeaks as part of a broader fight against government secrecy, censorship, and the erosion of democratic freedoms.

JULIAN ASSANGE & HILLARY CLINTON

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks played a pivotal role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by publishing emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the personal email account of @johnpodesta who was the campaign chairman for @HillaryClinton These publications significantly impacted the political discourse, casting a spotlight on the internal communications of the Clinton campaign and the DNC's operations.

WikiLeaks' release of these emails exposed various contentious issues, including evidence suggesting that the DNC favored Clinton over her primary competitor, Bernie Sanders, raising questions about the integrity of the Democratic primary process and the famous #PizzaGate. Additionally, the leaks included excerpts from Clinton's paid speeches to Wall Street firms, which many felt contradicted her public policy positions, and revealed instances of media collusion with the Clinton campaign.

Critics accused WikiLeaks of aiming to damage Hillary Clinton's candidacy and alleged that the organization was used by Russian interests to influence the election outcome. The U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russian operatives hacked the DNC and Podesta's emails, then supplied them to WikiLeaks for publication. WikiLeaks and Assange have denied these allegations, maintaining their long-standing policy of not revealing their sources (#SethRich) and emphasizing their mission to promote transparency.

The backlash against Assange and WikiLeaks for their involvement in the 2016 election is viewed by supporters as an attempt to deflect from the substantive issues raised by the leaked emails. They argue that the focus should be on the need for transparency and the revelations about political processes and practices, rather than on discrediting Assange or WikiLeaks.

The legal and political challenges faced by Assange, particularly the U.S. efforts to extradite him on charges related to the publication of classified documents, are seen by his supporters as a broader attack on freedom of the press and an individual's right to expose truths about powerful entities. This narrative frames Assange as a figure who has been persecuted for his role in bringing to light information that holds the potential to promote more accountable and transparent governance.

WHAT CONCERNS DO THE U.S GOVERNMENT & INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HAVE REGARDING JULIAN ASSANGE?

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks have long been perceived as a significant challenge to the United States government and its intelligence agencies due to their role in publishing classified, sensitive, and confidential information. This information has often exposed hidden aspects of U.S. foreign policy, military operations, and intelligence practices, leading to public scrutiny and diplomatic embarrassments for the United States. The fear and opposition toward Assange from the U.S. government and its intelligence agencies can be attributed to several key factors and events:

1. Exposure of Classified Information: WikiLeaks, under Assange's leadership, has released a vast amount of classified U.S. government documents. Notably, the 2010 publication of the Iraq and Afghanistan war logs provided an unprecedented look into U.S. military operations, including reports of civilian casualties and insights into the conduct of wars that were significantly more complex and troubling than the public narrative suggested. These leaks challenged the U.S. government's control over military information and its narrative regarding the conduct and progress of these conflicts.

2. Diplomatic Repercussions: The release of over 250,000 U.S. diplomatic cables, known as "#CableGate," in 2010, exposed the inner workings of U.S. diplomacy, including candid assessments of foreign leaders and governments, and sensitive discussions on international negotiations and covert actions. This massive leak strained the United States' relations with its allies and adversaries alike, as it laid bare the often blunt and critical private views of U.S. diplomats about global leaders and sensitive geopolitical issues.

3. Compromising National Security Operations: WikiLeaks' publications have sometimes included details about the U.S. intelligence community's methods and operations. For instance, the "#Vault7" release in 2017 exposed a wide array of the CIA's hacking tools and methods for conducting electronic surveillance and cyber warfare. Such disclosures are feared by the U.S. government because they potentially compromise ongoing intelligence operations, expose methods of gathering intelligence, and enable adversaries to develop countermeasures.

4. Setting a Precedent for Transparency and Leaks: Assange and WikiLeaks have inspired a broader culture of leaking and transparency that goes beyond traditional journalistic practices. By providing a platform where whistleblowers could share classified or sensitive information with the promise of anonymity and global reach, WikiLeaks posed a direct challenge to the U.S. government's control over its information and narratives. This has led to concerns within the U.S. government about the potential for future leaks and the difficulty of maintaining secrecy around sensitive operations.

5. Allegations of Political Interference: The U.S. government has accused Assange and WikiLeaks of being involved in Russian attempts to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by publishing emails from the DNC and John Podesta. These publications were seen as attempts to influence the election's outcome, contributing to the perception of WikiLeaks not merely as a transparency organization but as a tool that could be used to undermine U.S. democracy and influence its political processes.

6. Challenge to Legal and Normative Frameworks: Assange's activities with WikiLeaks have challenged the legal and normative frameworks that govern classified information, national security, and press freedoms. The U.S. government's efforts to prosecute Assange under the Espionage Act for publishing classified information have raised significant concerns among free press advocates about the potential implications for journalists and media organizations that publish leaked or classified materials in the public interest.

The combination of these factors contributes to the U.S. government's adversarial stance toward Julian Assange. From the perspective of the U.S. government and its intelligence agencies, Assange represents a figure who has significantly undermined their operational secrecy, exposed sensitive diplomatic and intelligence activities, and challenged the norms governing national security and classified information.

VAULT 7

Vault 7 is a series of documents that WikiLeaks began publishing on March 7, 2017, which detail activities and hacking tools used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to conduct electronic surveillance and cyber warfare. The Vault 7 leak is one of the most significant and detailed disclosures of classified information in the history of the United States, exposing the breadth and depth of the CIA's cyber espionage capabilities.

The documents within Vault 7 reveal a wide range of CIA activities, including:

1. Hacking Tools and Techniques: The documents detail various tools and techniques used by the CIA to compromise smartphones, computers, and even smart TVs to conduct surveillance. These tools allowed the CIA to bypass encryption on popular messaging apps and to turn devices into covert listening devices.

2. Global Surveillance Operations: Vault 7 demonstrated the global reach of the CIA's cyber espionage efforts, showcasing how the agency targeted a wide range of devices and systems worldwide, including those used by individuals, governments, and corporations.

3. Cyber Warfare Capabilities: The leaks included information on the CIA's ability to conduct cyber attacks, detailing malware and viruses used to target and potentially disrupt or damage targeted systems. This highlighted the offensive cyber capabilities of the United States, contributing to the global discourse on cyber warfare and the need for cyber norms.

4. Vulnerability Hoarding: The documents suggested that the CIA, in some cases, chose to keep software vulnerabilities secret from technology manufacturers and the public to use them for intelligence purposes. This practice of "vulnerability hoarding" raised significant concerns about cybersecurity and the responsibility of government agencies to disclose vulnerabilities to ensure systems' security worldwide.

5. Impact on Privacy and Security: The Vault 7 release sparked a global debate about privacy, surveillance, and the balance between national security and individual rights. It raised questions about the extent to which intelligence agencies should be allowed to collect information and exploit technology for espionage purposes.

6. Public and Corporate Reaction: The disclosure led to widespread concern among technology companies whose products were mentioned as being vulnerable to CIA hacking tools. Many companies, including Apple and Google, responded by stating that they had already fixed many of the vulnerabilities or were working swiftly to address any remaining issues to protect their users.

Vault 7 is considered a landmark leak because it not only revealed the technical details of the CIA's cyber espionage tools but also sparked discussions about ethical, legal, and policy issues related to government surveillance, cyber security, and the right to privacy. For Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, publishing Vault 7 was consistent with their mission to expose secret activities of governments, promote transparency, and inform the public about issues affecting their privacy and security in the digital age.

“This is the last free Generation.” - Julian Assange

Video Credit: Daily Mail

JULIAN ASSANGE U.S EXTRADITION OR FREEDOM?

As of the latest updates, Julian Assange's legal battle against extradition to the United States is approaching a critical juncture. A possible final appeal against his extradition is scheduled to be heard at London's High Court in February. Assange faces 18 counts in the U.S., including charges under a spying act related to WikiLeaks' publication of a large volume of confidential U.S. military records and diplomatic cables. These publications by WikiLeaks are said to have endangered lives according to Washington. Despite the UK's approval for his extradition, Assange has been fighting to overturn this decision. His appeal at the High Court is set for a public hearing on February 20-21, where two judges will review a previous ruling that had refused him permission to appeal. This hearing is viewed as possibly Assange's last chance to avoid extradition to the U.S.

In addition to his appeal in the UK, Assange's legal team has also submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), aiming to block his extradition. This move suggests a strategic broadening of his legal defense, potentially bringing the case to a more sympathetic international forum. The ECHR has confirmed receiving the application, indicating a significant escalation in Assange's legal fight against extradition.

These developments come after a British judge initially ruled in January 2021 that Assange should not be extradited due to concerns over his mental health and the risk of suicide if he were to be held in a U.S. maximum-security prison. However, this decision was later overturned after U.S. authorities appealed, offering assurances that included a pledge to allow Assange to serve any sentence in Australia, his home country.

Assange's case has continued to draw significant public and media attention, with major media outlets and international figures expressing support for ending his prosecution. This situation highlights ongoing debates about press freedom, the right to information, and the use of legal mechanisms to address national security leaks.

WHY JULIAN ASSANGE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. THINK 1ST AMENDMENT

Julian Assange's case is widely regarded as a landmark for freedom of the press and the First Amendment, raising critical questions about the rights of journalists, the boundaries of national security, and the public's right to know. Here's an analysis of its importance:

1. Press Freedom and the First Amendment: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of speech and the press. Assange's case tests these protections in the digital age, particularly for publishers who release classified information in the public interest. Critics argue that prosecuting Assange under the Espionage Act for publishing classified documents could set a dangerous precedent that threatens journalistic activities, as it might criminalize common practices in investigative journalism, such as obtaining and publishing information that governments wish to keep secret.

2. Global Impact on Journalism: The case has significant implications for journalists and media organizations worldwide. If Assange is extradited and convicted in the U.S. for publishing classified information, it could embolden other governments to pursue similar actions against journalists and whistleblowers, potentially leading to a more restrictive environment for the press globally.

3. National Security vs. Public Interest: Assange's case highlights the ongoing debate between the need for national security and the public's right to know. While governments argue that the publication of classified information can endanger lives and compromise security operations, advocates for Assange contend that such publications are vital for holding governments accountable and informing the public about matters of significant public interest, such as potential war crimes and diplomatic misconduct.

4. Legal Precedents and Future Implications: The legal outcome of Assange's case could set precedents affecting the application of the Espionage Act and the protection of journalistic sources and methods. It raises questions about whether there is a legal distinction between the leaker (the source of the classified information) and the publisher (the platform or individual that makes the information public), and how the law applies to each.

5. Digital Publishing and Encryption: Assange's work with WikiLeaks also underscores the evolving nature of journalism and publishing. WikiLeaks used encryption and a secure submission system to protect the identities of its sources, reflecting new technological methods that journalists use to gather and publish information. The case prompts a reevaluation of legal protections for such digital and encrypted journalism practices.

In essence, Julian Assange's case is a touchstone for debates about the limits of press freedom, the protection of journalistic sources, and the balance between government transparency and security. Its outcome could have lasting implications for how sensitive information is shared and reported in the media, influencing both legal standards and journalistic practices for years to come.

To Be Continued.