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In a 'Plot Twist', Wikileaks Releases Documents It Claims Detail Russia Mass Surveillance Apparatus (techcrunch.com)

WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin front, surprised some observers Tuesday morning (Snowden called it a "plot twist") when it released documents linking a Russian tech company with access to thousands of citizens' telephone and internet communications with Moscow. From a report: Writing a summary of the cache of mostly Russian-language documents, Wikileaks claims they show how a long-established Russian company which supplies software to telcos is also installing infrastructure, under state mandate, that enables Russian state agencies to tap into, search and spy on citizens' digital activity -- suggesting a similar state-funded mass surveillance program to the one utilized by the U.S.'s NSA or by GCHQ in the U.K. (both of which were detailed in the 2013 Snowden disclosures). The documents which Wikileaks has published (there are just 34 "base documents" in this leak) relate to a St. Petersburg-based company, called Peter-Service, which it claims is a contractor for Russian state surveillance. The company was set up in 1992 to provide billing solutions before going on to become a major supplier of software to the mobile telecoms industry.

99 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. politicians don't recognize integrity by KiloByte · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For politicians, revealing their misdeeds means you're an agent of their enemy. Not having any honesty or integrity themselves, they don't entertain the thought someone's agenda might be something else than supporting a particular political party.

    --
    The creatures outside looked from Alt-Right to Antifa; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
    1. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Just to remind/clarify: WikiLeaks just publishes everything they get. That's their stated mission. The politically biased agents are the people that give the information to WikiLeaks, not the organization itself. Assange is not the whole organization or its head, he's just a spokesperson. The organization seems to be structured in a way that it will go on if Assange goes missing.

    2. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Riiiight. That's why they release info that is politically expedient for them and hold back info that is not.

    3. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yes, like releasing Hillary's emails to the media, not in one shot but rather a bit at a time like once a week for the two months before the election.

    4. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by sound+vision · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Calling it a "Kremlin front" is pretty ridiculous. While they did probably get played by Russians... Assange is an asshole, but he is a principled asshole.

    5. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by Psion · · Score: 1

      Oh, sure! That would have been helpful to Hillary, wouldn't it? That would have made it so easy to lump it all together and white-wash the whole sordid affair with one neat lie instead of having to change her story every time a new leak came out. She got what she deserved. It's a shame Podesta et al thought Trump would be the easiest one to beat.

    6. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      So, you're saying that what Wikileaks did was motivated by trying to harm Clinton. You're just anti-Clinton so it doesn't look like political manipulation to you.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    7. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      In other words, you approve of the political purposes behind leaks, and have no frickin' idea how international politics works.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    8. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Wait, didn't Hillary WIN THE PEOPLE'S VOTE? By like 2.86 million? I guess that means that Wikileaks can foresee the future of crooked state weighted voting, right? Alt-right is always Alt-wrong

    9. Re: politicians don't recognize integrity by MercTech · · Score: 1

      Political manipulation, no.
      Making sure the crime isn't forgotten by giving something for the press to digest each week, yes.

      It doesn't matter who released the emails. The fact that they existed and contained classified information after Hillary Clinton had told Congress they didn't exist and didn't violate security regulations is the problem.

      Hillary Clinton performed an act that would have had someone who wasn't part of the political elite arrested, tried, convicted, and jailed. Her husband was impeached for the very thing Hillary Clinton did in lying to Congress about her emails.

      The source of exposure of poor ethical decisions is irrelevant to the poor ethical decisions being made.

      --
      NRRPT/RCT
  2. Damage Control? by MountainLogic · · Score: 1

    Is there a forthcoming article by a western new source about to pop? Get the spin out early and make it look like it is OK because "everyone is doing it." Just read Wikileaks's editorial comments: "suggesting a similar state-funded mass surveillance program to the one utilized by the U.S.'s NSA or by GCHQ in the U.K"

    1. Re: Damage Control? by fubarrr · · Score: 1

      Well, nobody can credibly deny that all those mass surveillance systems were made to look inward and spy after country's own citizenry.

      Ever seen spies sending messages to their governments on Facebook?

  3. Too late, Julian by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I guess he's getting tired of living in his Ecuadorian mom's basement and his 15 minutes of fame are over about an hour ago. Let that co-opted weasel dangle.

    From the article:

    "So it’s entirely possible Wikileaks/Assange is here trying to deflect from such charges by finally dumping something on Russia."

    Gee, ya think? They've now released thirty-four whole documents and they're looking for a pat on the back.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:Too late, Julian by pastafazou · · Score: 1

      Maybe, just maybe, docs don't get leaked from Russia as often? I'm guessing this has to do with the reputation Russian leadership has for brutally killing those that cross them...

    2. Re: Too late, Julian by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      He's a white male so therefore literally Hitler amirite?

    3. Re: Too late, Julian by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      Ooh good comeback. I bet you're a terror at the high school debating society.

    4. Re: Too late, Julian by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Nope. As far as I've been able to tell, he's a real jerk in his own right, regardless of race, sex, national origin, and other such things. He's done some good things in his time, but a lot of not so good things.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    5. Re: Too late, Julian by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      His personality was irrelevant when he was embarrassing GWB and his merry band of scumbags but because he embarrassed Hillary when it was HER TURN and maybe contributed to her losing he's now the enemy and clearly a Russian operative blah blah blah.

    6. Re: Too late, Julian by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      I didn't know much about him at that time. The Clinton releases I would feel better about if he'd done one large dump rather than spacing things out for increased political effect.

      He is a foreigner who deliberately influenced a US election in ways other than just infodumping.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    7. Re: Too late, Julian by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 1

      Not to mention what is damaging to western democracies isn't damaging to the Kremlin. The Kremlin wants its citizens to know they are monitored. They don't care if WikiLeaks leaks details of their enforce mechanisms for publicly touted surveillance powers.

      Now if they published corruption details that would be a different story.

    8. Re: Too late, Julian by cyber-vandal · · Score: 1

      The contents of the emails are what matter, not the personality or nationality of the messenger. Like I said before, it was fine for him to embarrass the âoeother sideâ but when he proved himself to be not be a left wing partisan then he became the demonic Russian puppet who ruined everything. Heâ(TM)s anti-establishment as far as I can tell and the DNCâ(TM)s disgraceful treatment of Bernie Sanders is more likely to have influenced the way he handled things than Vladimir Putin.

  4. Who? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "believed by many to be a Kremlin front"

    Who believes that?

    1. Re:Who? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "believed by many to be a Kremlin front"

      Who believes that?

      Those that believe the Democratic political narrative in general, including many /. editors.

    2. Re:Who? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      show us the tax returns

    3. Re:Who? by MightyMartian · · Score: 1, Insightful

      We'll see how you feel when you Flynn and Manafort start singing.

      --
      The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
    4. Re:Who? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      He sure seemed interested in getting Trump elected. (It wasn't that he just released dirt on CLinton, but the way he dribbled it out for maximum political effect). I don't know if he's a Kremlin front, but he's not an impartial publisher.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  5. Seems consistent to me by slapout · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They found the US government was spying on its citizens and released proof. Now they've discovered that Russia is spying on its citizens and released proof. Seems consistent.

    --
    Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
    1. Re:Seems consistent to me by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Yes but it's a steady trend.

      Yesterday: Revelation: US government is spying on its citizens
      Today: Err you probably know this: Russia is spying on its citizens.
      Tomorrow: Guys, China has a firewall.
      Saturday: WATER IS WET! AHHHH

  6. "WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin front by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The headlines on Slashdot sure have changed over the years. You guys used to (figuratively) fellate Assange in the comments here, but one election cycle of punching your candidate for a change, and Wikileaks is a Russian front? That's some thin skin.

  7. Wikileaks docs about Russia in 2015 by arnott · · Score: 4, Informative

    WL had documents about Russia before. Here is an article regarding it.

  8. Fuck Off by sexconker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin front,

    List 5 such people who are not absolute retards. I'll wait.

    1. Re: Fuck Off by Cajun+Hell · · Score: 4, Funny

      You're right! Fine. Let's throw out the no-retards rule.

      List 5 people who have the belief, preferably with a link or quotation for each one where they explain how they became aware of the sinister Kremlin-Wikileaks connection. And if all 5 say "I first became aware of it, Mandrake, during the physical act of love," I swear none of us will giggle or smirk or anything like that!

      --
      "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
    2. Re:Fuck Off by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Your fault for saying *absolute*...

      Nah, it's your fault for coming up with a list of "absolute retards" after the PP said "no absolute retards". Quotes used because I know a couple of disabled people, so I prefer the term "fuckwits", myself.

    3. Re: Fuck Off by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      How far slashdot has fallen when comments like this are modded 5 insightful.

      Why? Because people actually write what everyone would think? Maybe we should return to the Slashdot of old, and just be polite with our questions and then label the people in our minds and then reply saying how retarded they are and ask for a true Scotsman.

      Slashdot is full of coders, we simply applied a standard optimisation algorithm to eliminate the worthless inefficiencies of the discussion. Given that you and I typed this I think the algorithm has some bugs that need to be ironed out.

  9. I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by Cajun+Hell · · Score: 4, Interesting

    WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin front

    Whoa! WTF? Not kidding, this is the very first time I have heard this conspiracy theory.

    When you say "many", are you talking about a number of people approximately equal to the number of 9/11-Truthers? Half the number of Obama Birthers? C'mon, put this "many" into the units that we're familiar with, you know, like how you measure hard disks in terms of Libraries of Congress.

    --
    "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
    1. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by mbkennel · · Score: 1

      | Whoa! WTF? Not kidding, this is the very first time I have heard this conspiracy theory.

      Uh, it's widely believed in the intelligence community, rumored that NSA/GCHQ has intercepts of Assange talking to Russians about this stuff and the election hacking.

    2. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by Pascoea · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Uh, it's widely believed in the intelligence community...

      You mean that the people that wikileaks is trying to expose would want to tie them to the latest boogeyman in order to discredit them? Say it ain't so!

    3. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Whoa! WTF? Not kidding, this is the very first time I have heard this conspiracy theory.

      You must be new here. I've seen this accusation made here frequently.

      When you say "many", are you talking about a number of people approximately equal to the number of 9/11-Truthers? Half the number of Obama Birthers? C'mon, put this "many" into the units that we're familiar with, you know, like how you measure hard disks in terms of Libraries of Congress.

      Your lack of experience with the material is immaterial. It is a fact that many people have accused Wikileaks of Russian influence, especially over the last year and change.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by Uberbah · · Score: 1

      Uh, it's widely believed in the intelligence community

      Handpicked spooks chosen by a professional liar who committed perjury does not mean "widely believed".

    5. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Uh, it's widely believed in the intelligence community,

      Where can I find this intelligent community?

    6. Re:I missed a "Kremlim front" thing? Daaaamn. by coofercat · · Score: 1

      You'd think, if you were trying to set up a 'front' that you'd find someone 'better' than Assange to lead it ;-)

  10. Too late, Hillary by mi · · Score: 3, Informative

    Let that co-opted weasel dangle.

    In 2010 you both held Mr. Assange in higher regard and pointed out to those, who'd consider him "an ass":

    One must be careful not to dismiss the truth because it's delivered by an "ass".

    But now that your precious Hillary has blamed him, you are not only call him names yourself, but do dismiss the truth he delivers... Or is "ass" materially different from "weasel"?..

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Too late, Hillary by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

      Or is "ass" materially different from "weasel"?

      Jumping in... I'd just like to remind everyone that weasels have asses.

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    2. Re:Too late, Hillary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Lol still obsessed with Hillary, so sad. I bet you have some great thoughts on her recent book you didn't read and just read someone else tell you what was in it and why you should be hysterically angry at it.

    3. Re:Too late, Hillary by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

      ...but his meddling in the 2016 elections clearly demonstrate that he's a lot more interested these days in the axe he has to grind with the Clintons than in pursuing the original mission of his organization...

      His mission was to publish dirt on powerful people. The Clintons are powerful people and have tons of dirt. It's not surprising that he dribbled out lots of info about them because there is a lot to dribble out. More dirty laundry of the rich and powerful getting exposed is always good. I'm not clear why people have flopped on him, as if Clintons' misdeeds remaining hidden were somehow a good thing.

    4. Re:Too late, Hillary by pslytely+psycho · · Score: 1

      "Will someone show this guy a weasel's ass?"

      If you so insist.....

      https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDDzrqZU0AAYQuV.jpg

      To show my humanitarian side, and soothe the bleeding eyes.....

      http://www.eyebleach.me/babes/

      --
      Donald Trump, on a crusade to make Nixon look respectable
    5. Re: Too late, Hillary by bestweasel · · Score: 1

      Hey, I'm getting triggered here.

    6. Re:Too late, Hillary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You didn't answer the guys point though. Your original thought was "you shouldn't dismiss the truth because it's delievered by an ass."

      Now you think Assange is an ass you seem pretty willing to dismiss the truth simply because he tells you it.

      We aren't wondering why you think Assange is an ass, we're wondering why you have changed the amount of value you place on being told the truth. I'm willing to be that you only want the truth as long as it's convenient and easy to slot into what you allready believe...

    7. Re:Too late, Hillary by dave420 · · Score: 1

      Russian hackers among the bushes, please.

    8. Re:Too late, Hillary by dave420 · · Score: 1

      The timing seemed to imply it wasn't released because it had to be released, but because if it was released then, it would change something, namely the outcome of the election. It's not about what he said, but when he chose to say it.

    9. Re:Too late, Hillary by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

      It's not about what he said, but when he chose to say it.

      So dirt should only be reported when it's convenient for the corrupt people? I find that info on a candidate before an election is helpful - much more useful than after an election. Yes the timing looks bad but I'm sure that he was fed the information in such a way as to maximize the damage. Remember that he's only a messenger, the actual info comes from other sources - as might the timing.

    10. Re:Too late, Hillary by tbannist · · Score: 1

      So dirt should only be reported when it's convenient for the corrupt people?

      The dirt was definitely released when it was convenient for a number of very corrupt people.

      --
      Fanatically anti-fanatical
    11. Re:Too late, Hillary by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      If someone digs for the truth and gets general truth out, that's good. If someone publishes some truths, that's less good. When someone publishes truths in ways designed to help or hurt a political candidate, rather than as a dump, that person is a politician and should be judged accordingly.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
    12. Re:Too late, Hillary by AutodidactLabrat · · Score: 1

      Oh, he's an ass, helping an enemy of press freedom instead of an inadequate friend of same.

    13. Re:Too late, Hillary by liquid_schwartz · · Score: 1

      So dirt should only be reported when it's convenient for the corrupt people?

      The dirt was definitely released when it was convenient for a number of very corrupt people.

      This would be true no matter how or when it was released since they are all very corrupt.

  11. Does this actually matter? by Okian+Warrior · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I guess he's getting tired of living in his Ecuadorian mom's basement and his 15 minutes of fame are over about an hour ago. Let that co-opted weasel dangle.

    Does this actually matter?

    I've often wondered why people keep trotting out these sorts of attacks. It's saying, literally, "this is not a good thing, because the person is somehow bad".

    Firstly, it's only your opinion.

    Secondly, Julian does not seem to have a lot of conceit, pompousness, or self-importance in other matters - including interviews. He's certainly confident and well-informed, but I haven't seen anything particularly negative about his demeanour.

    Attention whore is an explanation of this one action, but with no other corroborating evidence do you think the explanation is likely? Are other explanations more likely than this one?

    Thirdly, and most importantly, is this in any way relevant? Is there some reason we can't say "good job, Julian!" and think that maybe his actions are doing some good for the world?

    Must we discount this achievement because he's not your model of perfection?

    1. Re:Does this actually matter? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Must we discount this achievement because he's not your model of perfection?

      Yes, because IT WAS HER TURN!

      That's all this boils down to. Remember: these fuckos were singing Assange's praises and nominating him for all the Nobel Prizes (even Chemistry!) when he was revealing shit about Bush.

    2. Re:Does this actually matter? by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 1

      Is there some reason we can't say "good job, Julian!" and think that maybe his actions are doing some good for the world?

      Probably because this is the internet. Everyone on the internet hates everyone.

      --
      Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
    3. Re:Does this actually matter? by hey! · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I have to agree, but the point stands. Whether or not Assange is a pompous conceited ass has no bearing on his opinions or actions.

      What we're looking like is a reflection of a fundamental problem with democracy. Democracy depends on an electorate that is educated on and involved in the issues. The problem is that issues are hard. They're full of gray areas and squirrelly corner cases.

      But you know what's very easy? Deciding whether you like someone or not. Then if you conflate that with them being a good or bad person, and further decide that you'll trust all the "good" people completely and distrust all "bad" ones completely... Well then you'll never have to deal with difficult thinking ever again.

      How do you know that you're one of those people? Well, if you can find a group of people somewhere whom you agree with pretty much all the time, that's a reliable sign that you don't really think for yourself. On the other hand, let's say you don't really fit in anywhere; you have some strong disagreements with the people you agree with most, and sometimes think people you dislike probably have a point... Congratulations then, that means you think for yourself. The fundamental philosophy of our government, of our very society was built around people like you. Kind of sad, when you think about it.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    4. Re:Does this actually matter? by david_thornley · · Score: 1

      Sure, the electorate should be informed of the issues. However, one-sided information has some seriously bad effects. If someone were to truthfully describe all of your bad points to someone else, that person would almost certainly form an unjustly negative opinion of you. It's possible to lie while telling the truth.

      If Wikileaks had wanted to inform people about Clinton's emails, Wikileaks would have dumped all the information on the net at once. Leaking it out slowly is a political act, and I will judge it like any other political act. Assange knowlingly helped Trump get elected.

      --
      "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  12. So, not China then? by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    Now that would have been interesting.

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  13. Plot twist? by Artem+S.+Tashkinov · · Score: 4, Insightful

    There's no plot twist, there's just a final revelation which will be largely unknown among the Russians because most media outlets are controlled by the Kremlin, as well as the largest social network in Russia.

    Everyone with a brain perfectly understands that Putin has always been lying about the state of surveillance and privacy in Russia. Largely there's none, because there's no law when it concerns the men in power. They do as they please.

    1. Re:Plot twist? by coofercat · · Score: 1

      Like most people knew that western governments were doing some spying on their own people too. However, seeing the actual documents, the details of how and when and what for - that's what's interesting.

  14. Re:"believed by many to be a Russian front" by pastafazou · · Score: 2

    Ya, what kind of moron would think Russia could influence US politics...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bX3EZCVj2XA

  15. Re:"believed by many to be a Russian front" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    That video link proves the entire Left (Democrats) are under Russian influence, have always been and continue to be.

    Half of this country has been saying this for a long time.

  16. Re:Kremlin front? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So the majority of everyone?

  17. believed by many to be a Kremlin front by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    [by whom?] [citation needed]

  18. Illegal? by fish_in_the_c · · Score: 1

    Does anyone know weather or not there is any law that would lead lead people to believe they have a right to privacy in Russia? in the united states we have laws against illegal search? Does the same concept even exist in Russia?

    --
    âoeTolerance applies only to persons, but never to truth. Intolerance applies only to truth, but never to persons.
    1. Re:Illegal? by tinkerton · · Score: 1

      There are a few things in the constitution and in labor law it appears: https://iclg.com/practice-area... . But how strong these are I have no idea.

  19. What a Russian takes away from this by mbkennel · · Score: 2

    Don't you fucking dare oppose Putin ever. We know everything.

    Most likely, the details are all falsified by the FSB (so NSA/GCHQ/BND doesn't get in), but the scope is authentic.

  20. The funny thing is we saw them INVENT it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's funny because they talked about creating that narrative in the very emails! Pity most people never actually read them and instead trusted people like CNN, who lied about them being altered when they're DKIM verified, had Chris Cuomo, who is an attorney who should know better, lie about it being illegal to read them, and who also helped rig the debates? Or maybe Bezos' WaPo, which was passing the DNC articles to review, working with Podesta, and running secret fundraisers with the DNC after the DNC's own lawyers said not to?

    I don't believe anyone who doesn't have verifiable sources any more.

  21. You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fame" by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    ... regarding assange, for years leading up to the 2016 election, in amongst your bleating yelps of "rapist! " . Someone needs to get you a new script.

  22. Disinformation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Disinformation: Vlad is throwing Peter Services under the bus while leaving the other sources of spying in the clear.

    1. Re:Disinformation by k6mfw · · Score: 1

      I was thinking of the movie "North by Northwest" where characters played by Martin Landau "shoots" James Mason. Referring to earlier where they witnessed when Eve shot Roger in the Mt Rushmore cafe. "She used blanks. It's an old Gestapo trick. Shoot one of your own to not let them get suspicious. They just made it cleaner by using blanks."

      --
      mfwright@batnet.com
  23. Re:You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fame by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    He's hiding out, but nobody wants him. As a purveyor of information, he's damaged goods, desperately trying to stay relevant. You'll notice how the anti-US docs have dried up now that Putin's boy has become president.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  24. Woodward and Bernstein were an FBI front by Cajun+Hell · · Score: 1

    That some of the leaks are believed to have come from Russia wasn't the thing I hadn't heard of. The thing I hadn't heard of was that some people believe Wikileaks is a Russian front.

    --
    "Believe me!" -- Donald Trump
  25. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    Wikileaks has been releasing material on the CIA for months. Way to not respond to me at all though.

  26. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "but one election cycle of punching your candidate for a change, and Wikileaks is a Russian front?"

    Sorry, but a guy who injected himself in the election specifically because he personally didn't like a candidate deserves that title. When you selectively data dump what you have, vocally timing it up to drip to influence the US election, both practices that were different from past releases of simply dumping everything he had in troves as fast as he properly process it, you've become a tool, esp when it's clear he also knew the nature of the source itself that was releasing the data to him to control the narrative and he continued to participate.

    It's not /. that changed. It's the standards and behavior of the person running Wikileaks that did.

  27. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Wikileaks has been releasing material on the CIA for months. Way to not respond to me at all though.

    And despite the fact that the Trump administration has been leaking like a sieve, Wikileaks has released nothing on them. When you're an organization that prides itself on integrity, choosing sides politically is not a good look.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  28. Re:"believed by many to be a Russian front" by farble1670 · · Score: 1

    Wow. I hope more people watch this.

  29. Assange by dohzer · · Score: 1

    In other news, Assange's hair and teeth have started falling out after latest balcony appearance.

  30. Re:"believed by many to be a Russian front" by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    Ya, what kind of moron would think Russia could influence US politics.

    Moronic ones, that's who. Or Swiftoating ratfuckers. Messing with other countries is what you do.

  31. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If Trump is already leaking like a sieve. Whats the point in leaking more? Is it even possible to leak more?

  32. Re:Long Live Julian Assange by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

    Offer a wiki where any leaker and post.

    As long as it's not a leak about the Trump administration, right?

    Likewise, the role of wikileaks after exposing many tens of thousands of covered up (never published) civilian deaths in the afghan/iraq w/cheney war era

    Chelsea Manning did that, not Julian Assange. All Assange did was take the credit and do interviews.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
  33. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by Uberbah · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Sorry, but a guy who injected himself in the election specifically because he personally didn't like a candidate deserves that title.

    A corrupt, incompetent candidate who allegedly said "can't we just drone this guy"? Golly Gee, I wonder why Assange might not like her. Were you whining, though, that Assange "just didn't like Bush" when he was publishing information about that president's war crimes?

  34. WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin front by khz6955 · · Score: 1

    It's sad seeing a once respectable technology site reduced to being the Faux News of the technology media.

  35. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by thegarbz · · Score: 1

    punching your candidate

    Well he would have punched both candidates, but one of them was standing in the corner beating on himself. For some reason voters considered that more trustworthy and he "won" by a photo finish.

  36. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by The+Cynical+Critic · · Score: 1

    If you know anything about how wilileaks works, you'll know that they don't do sieve type leaks. The leaks they publish are ones that have been given to them directly and they don't go around re-publishing stuff that's already been leaked to mainstream media.

    --
    "Why should I want to make anything up? Life's bad enough as it is without wanting to invent any more of it."
  37. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by Cederic · · Score: 1

    Well, it is believed by many to be a Kremlin front.

    They're all stupid fuckwits, but they still believe it.

  38. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by coofercat · · Score: 1

    What if the Trump-leakers decided to contact Fox or WSJ instead of Wikileaks? How would Wikileaks be able to publish that information? It's not like they magically get a copy of every document accidentally left on a train, or quietly spoken to a contact on while hiding in a cupboard at work.

  39. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by BlueStrat · · Score: 1

    Sorry, but a guy who injected himself in the election specifically because he personally didn't like a candidate deserves that title.

    A corrupt, incompetent candidate who allegedly said "can't we just drone this guy"? Golly Gee, I wonder why Assange might not like her. Were you whining, though, that Assange "just didn't like Bush" when he was publishing information about that president's war crimes?

    You and I have rarely agreed on political/ideological topics, but I will step up and say we are in agreement regarding the hypocrisy shown here regarding Wikileaks/Assange. You nailed it quite well. Thank you.

    Wait, I agree with a '+5 Insightful' post, even thank him when we usually disagree on many if not most topics, and I get modded 'Troll'?

    LOL!

    I'm not sure if it's the actual content of the post or the fact that I dared to exhibit consistency in my principles even with someone with whom I usually disagree with that triggered the snowflake with mod-points.

    Either way it's pretty damned hilarious, and very telling!

    Strat

    --
    Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  40. SORM by ppii · · Score: 1

    What a sensation. Check wikipedia for SORM. The system is being built from 1995. The system itself is a requirement for law enforcement. Sure can be misused but is it what documents are about?

  41. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by david_thornley · · Score: 1

    Start with some extremely suspicious behavior, compounded with obvious lies, around the rape allegations. I got really annoyed by people who swallowed whatever he said, no matter how implausible, no matter how wrong. His political campaigning against Clinton showed that he isn't an impartial truth dumper.

    --
    "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  42. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by david_thornley · · Score: 1

    Right. Reread what you wrote. You're agreeing that Assange was doing his best to stop Clinton from being elected, and you're making excuses for why.

    --
    "When you have eliminated the unacceptable, whatever is left, however improbable, must be the truthiness" - Holmes
  43. Re: You paid shills were saying "15 minutes of fam by Rujiel · · Score: 1

    Are you a bot or do you just copypaste shit? Are you capable of actually responding to anything that is said to you?

  44. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    Right. Reread what you wrote.

    Uh, you first, Slick. Hillary Clinton was a complete and utter trainwreck of corrupt warmongering incompetence. Anyone with two neurons to rub together would want her as faaaaar from any position of power as possible. Now you take that, plus an alleged crack about getting someone murdered - it wouldn't be the first time - and you think said person wouldn't have a perfectly valid self-interest in seeing that person lose an election?

    And that's assuming his decision was in any way influenced by threatened by a drone. Most of the commentary on Assange's character and motivations is mindless, drooling character assassination. This is not an exception.

  45. Re: "believed by many to be a Russian front" by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    You fuckheads said the same thing about anyone who questioned the Iraq war, smearing them as Saddam supporters. You were full of shit then, and you are full of shit now.

  46. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by Uberbah · · Score: 1

    Wait, I agree with a '+5 Insightful' post, even thank him when we usually disagree on many if not most topics, and I get modded 'Troll'?

    Well, I would say it was a butthurt Hillbot with modpoints, but I'm still sitting at a +2, so who knows. But it sounds like we can agree on her being a loathsome person, so I will raise a glass and toast to her sharing Kristian Saucier's fine accommodations, and for the same reasons he did.

  47. Re:"WikiLeaks, believed by many to be a Kremlin fr by BlueStrat · · Score: 1

    Right. Reread what you wrote. You're agreeing that Assange was doing his best to stop Clinton from being elected, and you're making excuses for why.

    As Uberbah pointed out already, Wikileaks published dirt on the Bush Jr. administration as well as HRC.

    Maybe he smiled a bit when WL published the Clinton/DNC emails after having his life threatened by HRC, but seeing as how WL has published dirt from *both sides*, I don't see any other reason than DNC/Clinton butthurt as a reason to accuse Assange/WL of plotting specifically against HRC.

    Strat

    --
    Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.