The irony of WikiLeaks’ anti-leak agreement
Those looking up “irony” in the dictionary may find a picture of Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks.
Julian Assange, who as a computer hacker went by the name Mendax, which means "nobly untruthful", is asking WikiLeaks staff to trust him.
According to someone who worked at the publisher of “classified” material, Assange has forced employees to sign a “Confidentiality Agreement” that prevents them from ever leaking any information about how the non-profit works.
Those who spill the beans about the organization’s inner workings face a hefty fine of about $19.5 million.
Such a fine is unenforceable, according to legal writer David Allen Green.
One worker, Guardian reporter James Ball, refused to sign the agreement, and shared his unsigned copy with someone publicly via Twitter. Ball says showing the document to the world was “inadvertent” but I find that hard to swallow. Someone that works with WikiLeaks and writes for a major newspaper has to know how Twitter works.
Ball refused to sign the backdated document for several reason, chief among them being that he had already given interviews about WikiLeaks.
Assange allegedly spent “two hours – shouting – explaining why [Ball] must sign the document, or else risk the lives and wellbeing of everyone in the room, and never be trusted again.”
Assange is accused of getting other WikiLeakers to “apply psychological pressure” to get Ball to sign.
He never did.
As Ball writes, it’s curious behavior for a man asking others to believe whistleblowers help hold organizations accountable.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
12 comments Add your comment
mendax4real
May 15th, 2011
7:32 pm
These boards are filled with the same group that trolls the net for stories about Wikileaks and Assange and write up glorious reviews of their Leader. Much like Scientology and others with such egotistical leaders at the helm.
Did Julian sign a contract not to prosper by selling any materials? So he CAN.
This is his insurance the he alone will have the authority to sell the content and pocket the money.
Does Wikileaks have a board of directors? Who does Julian answer to?
The IRS of the USA does not have any non profit named WikiLeaks or Sunshine press……. they do not have tax exempt status in the USA…..though Assange keeps saying he is a Non profit. This conttract is Julians way of owning the material himself.
Do not trust Wikileaks with your material. Julian is not to be trusted. I hope those ladies in Sweden see some justice. There is a history with Julian. If you follow his pattern you will see he is playing a game with one winner………and it is not you.
Sammy
May 27th, 2011
3:09 am
People of Japan…… I feel so sorry for the disaster happened to you. But someone should speak the truth “who is behind this???”. Do not even think or believe that, “it is a natural disaster”. Near Haiti US Marin had run the same test with powerful nuclear weapon which caused massive destructive Earthquake in that country. Immediately President of Haiti accused American Vulture Navy for this crime. People of Japan, please have a look at the source of the earthquake, isn’t it near your power house? Obviously if some one wants to destroy your country should hit the power plant first. This is a pre-planned strategic destruction US has planned against Japan, being jealous of your prosperity they used their mass destructive weapon in the ocean bed. They planted this weapon in the ocean bed using the submarine of US Marines (as they had been successful with the test on Haiti). Now who is there to put this conspiracy on International court against US? Also International court is controlled by them. US is now losing in their economy. So they are trying to destroy other rich countries Economy like Japan’s. Japan and other prosperous countries like China should be careful of US conspiracy and strengthen their Defense system. Otherwise US will be playing with their fate as they are playing with Arab countries. Also pay attention at this specific type of stealth weapon they are using. Some high-tech defense system has to be invented to stop this type of MASS DESTRUCTION.