Slashdot Mirror
WikiLeaks Published Rape Victims' Names, Credit Cards, Medical Data (arstechnica.com)
Joe Mullin, writing for ArsTechnica: Even as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange sits trapped in the Ecuadorean embassy, the WikiLeaks website continues to publish the secrets of various governments worldwide. But that's not all it's publishing. A report today by the Associated Press highlights citizens who had "sensitive family, financial or identity records" published by the site. "They published everything: my phone, address, name, details," said one Saudi man whose paternity dispute was revealed in documents published by the site. "If the family of my wife saw this... Publishing personal stuff like that could destroy people." One document dump, from Saudi diplomatic cables, held at least 124 medical files. The files named sick children, refugees, and patients with psychiatric conditions. In one case, the cables included the name of a Saudi who was arrested for being gay. In Saudi Arabia, homosexuality is punishable by death. In two other cases, WikiLeaks published the names of teenage rape victims. "This has nothing to do with politics or corruption," said Dr. Nayef al-Fayez, who had a patient with brain cancer whose personal details were published.
Publish away! All the things!
Wikileaks has devolved into pretty much just Julian and a disciple or two. He doesn't have the bandwidth to do vetting, he's just burning the Earth now.
Yet another Wikileaks hit-piece. Are there any legitimate editors on this site or do they just unquestioningly regurgitate the party line?
I trust Wikileaks a whole lot more than the average Associated Press news story full of random bullshit attributed to "sources speaking anonymously because they were not authorized." We're not dumb, we don't want a filter and "think of the children" is how dictators often climb to power.
As the person was already arrested, I assume the govt already knows their name and their punishment is already lined up. Making this info widely public is probably the only way anyone else will ever know what happened to this person.
Feels to me like a hit piece put out there to discredit the massive drops Wikileaks has be releasing lately. Rumor is they're sitting on the really good stuff until we're closer to the election.
This article is little more than fluff
I had no idea Wikileaks supported ****TEEN RAPE****. Well that settles it,who cares what information is released in the coming months pertaining to immoral and illegal actions committed at the highest levels of government. How can one ever believe an outlet that is associated with****TEEN RAPE****.
I'm sure if you were a rape victim who had her details just mindlessly thrown on to the web, you would totally understand that your revictimization was totally necessary to this "war".
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
Maybe we should be angry that this type of sensitive information is in diplomatic cables. Why are medical records, credit card info and other stuff being stored and transmitted by government agents in the first place?
He doesn't "sit trapped in the Ecuadorean embassy" any more than a prissy teenage girl who is mad at her parents and doesn't wanna come down for dinner sits trapped in her room. He can just walk out of there whenever he pleases. The only risk he'd face would be major embarrassment after NOT being deported to the US.
Maybe we should be angry that this type of sensitive information is in diplomatic cables. Why are medical records, credit card info and other stuff being stored and transmitted by government agents in the first place?
Most likely they are assisting people who became sick way from their home country. Are you bothered by the government helping people?
Why wouldn't they? If, for example, I was mugged (say, both robbed and say beaten with a stick) in a foreign country, I could fully expect the police report to end up in a diplomatic transmission, which would include the stolen identity/credit card information as well as the medical records that described my injuries. Crimes against foreign nationals would often go though the State Department and whatever equivalent the other nation had.
I dont know the circumstances of all the cases described in these cases, but there are plenty of reasonable and legal reasons for a government body to have that information that does not involve Big Brother spying.
Common Sense isn't as Common as people think...
Hillary Clinton's PR firm must be in overdrive trying to discredit Wikileaks.
Time to get out the popcorn, this should get interesting.
My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
I'm sorry, I missed the trial that convicted him. Then again, everyone knows that once accused it's guilty unless proven innocent beyond any doubt, especially in sex offenses committed by men.
You are right. He should have a trial. What's that? He is hiding in an embassy to avoid having to go to trial. That seems a little strange.
I was not aware they ever did any vetting, and if they did, what their standard of care was
Wikileaks absolutely does "vetting" and "curation". They will edit things to remove facts contrary to the narrative they wish to promote. For example when US helicopters kill some journalists in Iraq they will remove the early parts of the video showing these journalists traveling down the street with a group of armed militants only blocks from where US ground forces are engaged in combat.
Exactly. That is, after all, a very large part of an embassy's job, to assist citizens of that country when in a foreign country, and to communicate any needs or concerns back to their Government.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
I think it should be up to victims of such crimes to decide whether they want to have their names broadcast around the world, and not up to some guy who is hanging out in an Ecuadorian embassy to evade arrest by British police.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
So you also believe that Hillary too is innocent until proven guilty and are actively denouncing all the GOPers with their "Lock her up" chants, right?
Hopelessly pedantic since 1963.
The details were secure, until Chelsea manning gave them to an egomaniac sociopath that posted them on the internet without a second thought. Before that incident all these details were protected secrets and divulging of details would result in a prison sentence.
Those particular details were secure until the Guardian decided to print the password to the encrypted files along with a handy link to download them...
"Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
They don't need his permission or presence to charge him.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
Here is a story AP published that turned out to be fiction. It originated with Jon Ralston and was quickly picked up by AP and then other major media outlets. No corroboration ever materialized for the story, despite there being 3000 cameras in the room, and those that streamed live told a different story. The only media outlet to retract the story was NPR, and PBS fired Ralston.
Note also that this is the story that the DNC leadership instructed its members to pass around "without attribution", i.e. covertly smear Sanders with it. It's also the email that Assange has singled out as the most damming.
And also remember that much of the brouhaha over the leaked DNC emails was over collusion with the media.
In short, if you aren't yet skeptical of mainstream media this year, you need to start paying closer attention.