Kara Sears
WikiLeaks has been accused of breaking the law by releasing classified documents. The US federal government has warned employees not to access WikiLeaks or mirror sites, as the cables released are still considered classified information. Accessing such information without clearance is illegal and could damage one's government career. The State Department has also warned students interested in diplomatic careers to avoid accessing the documents, as it could call into question [their] ability to deal with confidential information. However, some government employee advocates have criticised these warnings as a form of censorship.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| WikiLeaks documents are still considered classified by the government | Accessing classified information without clearance is breaking the law |
| Accessing WikiLeaks documents could jeopardise future diplomatic careers | Students interested in a diplomatic career should not access the documents |
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What You'll Learn
Federal workers accessing WikiLeaks are breaking the law
The State Department was drawn into the censorship controversy after at least two universities warned students that they could be jeopardizing future diplomatic careers by accessing WikiLeaks documents still considered classified by the government. A State Department employee and alumnus of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs warned school officials that students interested in a diplomatic career should not access the documents. The State Department employee said that accessing or disseminating the documents “would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information”. The State Department employee also advised against discussing the documents on social network sites like Facebook or Twitter.
The Boston University School of Law's career services office issued a similar warning.
Some government employee advocates deem the warnings a form of censorship. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has made censorship-free Internet access a top priority of her dealings with authoritarian countries like China, some rights activists note.
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WikiLeaks documents are still classified by the government
WikiLeaks documents are still classified by the US federal government. The government has warned federal employees that accessing WikiLeaks and the mirror sites it and other information activists are setting up could damage their government career or even end it. This is because accessing classified information without clearance is illegal.
The State Department has also been drawn into the censorship controversy, with at least two universities warning students that accessing WikiLeaks documents could jeopardise their future diplomatic careers. A State Department employee and alumnus of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs warned school officials that students interested in a diplomatic career should not access the documents. The employee said that accessing or disseminating the documents “would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information”. The State Department employee also advised against discussing the documents on social network sites like Facebook or Twitter.
The Boston University School of Law's career services office issued a similar warning.
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WikiLeaks and censorship
WikiLeaks has been at the centre of a censorship controversy. The federal government has warned employees from the Library of Congress to its foot soldiers not to access WikiLeaks and the mirror sites it and other information activists are setting up. The warnings have even extended to accessing media reports about the disclosures. The federal government reasons that the cables released by WikiLeaks are still classified documents, and accessing classified information without clearance is tantamount to breaking the law. Federal agencies are not blocking WikiLeaks and mirror websites, but some government employee advocates deem the warnings a form of censorship.
The State Department was drawn into the censorship controversy after at least two universities warned students that they could be jeopardizing future diplomatic careers by accessing WikiLeaks documents still considered classified by the government. A State Department employee and alumnus of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs warned school officials that students interested in a diplomatic career should not access the documents, according to an e-mail sent to students. The State Department employee said that accessing or disseminating the documents “would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information”. The State Department employee also advised against discussing the documents on social network sites like Facebook or Twitter. The Boston University School of Law's career services office issued a similar warning.
Some rights activists have noted that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has made censorship-free Internet access a top priority of her dealings with authoritarian countries like China. It has also been suggested that the New York Times is more likely to have broken the law as it is operating on US soil.
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WikiLeaks and the media
WikiLeaks has been a source of controversy since its inception, with some arguing that it is breaking the law by releasing classified information. The federal government in the US has warned federal workers that accessing WikiLeaks could be considered a breach of the law and could damage their government careers. The State Department has also been drawn into the controversy, with at least two universities warning students that accessing WikiLeaks documents could jeopardise their future diplomatic careers. The Boston University School of Law's career services office issued a similar warning.
However, some government employee advocates deem the warnings a form of censorship. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has made censorship-free Internet access a top priority in her dealings with authoritarian countries like China, and some rights activists have noted this hypocrisy.
The question of whether WikiLeaks has committed a crime in releasing diplomatic files is a complex one. Mark A. Taff has pointed out that the New York Times is more likely to have broken the law as it is operating on US soil. There is also the question of whether WikiLeaks could have a legal claim for damages against Paypal, Mastercard and Visa for cutting off their account on the mere suspicion that they've violated US law.
The media's role in the WikiLeaks controversy has been complex. On the one hand, media outlets have reported on the disclosures made by WikiLeaks, but on the other hand, they have also been warned by the federal government not to access or disseminate the information. This has raised questions about censorship and the role of the media in a democracy.
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WikiLeaks and the law
WikiLeaks has been a source of controversy since its inception, with some arguing that the organisation is breaking the law by releasing classified information. The federal government in the US has warned federal workers that accessing WikiLeaks documents is illegal, as they are still considered classified. This warning has extended to accessing media reports about the disclosures and even discussing them on social media. The State Department has also been drawn into the controversy, with at least two universities warning students that accessing WikiLeaks documents could jeopardise their future diplomatic careers.
However, some government employee advocates deem the warnings a form of censorship. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has made censorship-free Internet access a top priority in her dealings with authoritarian countries. It is also worth noting that WikiLeaks has not committed any crimes in releasing the diplomatic files, as they are operating outside of US soil.
The legal status of WikiLeaks is complex and subject to ongoing debate. While some argue that the organisation is breaking the law, others defend its right to freedom of information and transparency. The impact of WikiLeaks on national security and international relations remains a highly contested issue.
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Frequently asked questions
The US federal government has warned federal workers that accessing WikiLeaks is illegal. This is because the cables released by WikiLeaks are still considered classified documents. Accessing classified information without clearance is illegal.
WikiLeaks is a big grey area. Technically, they aren't doing the leaks, they are just providing an outlet for leakers to leak. However, they are breaking several laws in regards to the national security laws in the countries that they leak information from.
If you access WikiLeaks, you could damage your government career or even end it. The State Department has warned that accessing or disseminating the documents "would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information".
Federal agencies are not blocking WikiLeaks and mirror websites, but some government employee advocates deem the warnings a form of censorship.
