One of the most resourceful, well-known and controversial sites on the web is WikiLeaks.
I’m sure that many of you have heard about the site via the mainstream media (and how disputed the site is); other people may not be so familiar.
Just so we are all on the same page: WikiLeaks is an online database that makes normally “classified”/restricted government documents available to the general public (as a collection of articles). They receive submissions from anonymous sources all around the world.
Check out their entry on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks
While yes, this is the leaking of privileged information, and many could argue that poses a danger to society, I see WikiLeaks playing a much larger role in the grand scheme of things.
Their intent in leaking such information is made clear in their slogan: “We open governments.”
For so long, so many true facts regarding government activities have been masked and classified. Members of society only learned of government activities via mass media (which was either A. government propaganda or B. deceptive government spinning). This struggle decreased with the birth of the Internet – which allows for citizens to share content with other citizens – without a “middle man.” Rumors about government activities have always been on the Internet, but for so long, there was never a source to legitimize said claims.
WikiLeaks provides a “a universal way for the revealing of suppressed and censored injustices.”
With the monopolizing/propaganda creating mass media outlets (essentially in business to make money, as a first priority), WikiLeaks serves as the TRUE fourth branch of government.
I see this site as providing a health balance between government, media and public disclosure. Sure, not everything posted may need to be shown and given the light of day. But it’s this tool that creates true democracy, transparency and freedom for the people. And it serves as a universal tool for sources in various countries all around the world (many of whom live in censored societies). This site helps to tear down the firewall within a country, between a government and its citizens and between countries around the world.
It stands for the demolition of red tape, the restoration of civil liberties - the right that every citizen should know its government's activities.
Check out a few recent, interesting articles on the site in mainstream media:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12320137
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