Summary
Highlights
Julian Assange discusses WikiLeaks' unprecedented achievement of releasing more classified documents than all other media combined. He explains their methods for receiving information, including state-of-the-art encryption and regular postal mail, and their process of vetting and formatting documents before release. He clarifies that they rarely know the identity of their sources, and if they do, they destroy that information.
Assange recounts the leaking of the Kroll Report in Kenya, a secret intelligence report detailing corruption under former dictator Daniel arap Moi. The report, commissioned by the clean-up government, was suppressed by them. WikiLeaks' release of this report before the 2007 election significantly impacted public opinion and, according to a Kenyan intelligence report, shifted the vote by 10%.
Assange presents a clip from the controversial Baghdad airstrike video, which depicted the killing of civilians, including two Reuters employees, by U.S. forces. He discusses the widespread outrage caused by the video, attributing it to the stark disparity in force and the perceived inhumanity of the actions depicted.
Assange articulates his philosophy: information that organizations expend effort to conceal often holds the potential for positive reform. He addresses the notion of legitimate secrets, asserting that WikiLeaks deals with well-motivated whistleblowers. He responds to criticism regarding the perceived negative impact on military personnel image, explaining that the goal is to inform those who fund these operations.
Assange addresses the irony of WikiLeaks needing secrecy to protect its sources while exposing secrets. He then shares a humorous example of how WikiLeaks verifies documents, by provoking companies to claim ownership as a way to identify the author and vouch for the document's authenticity.
Assange discusses the challenges WikiLeaks faces as a growing startup, including being overwhelmed by the quantity of high-caliber whistleblower disclosures and the need for more trusted personnel to process information. He then touches upon his nomadic childhood, moving through 37 schools, and his early experiences as a 'journalist activist' who was prosecuted for his writings.
Assange shares a core value instilled by his father: 'capable, generous men do not create victims; they nurture victims,' which he interprets as policing perpetrators of crime. He concludes by detailing how WikiLeaks' involvement in Iceland, after a major financial crisis, led to the unanimous passing of new legislation to establish Iceland as an offshore haven for free press with strong journalistic protections.
Julian Assange reflects on whether the future will bring more control and secrecy from 'Big Brother' or increased transparency and public scrutiny. He acknowledges the immense pressures surrounding freedom of speech and transparency legislation globally, emphasizing that with collective effort, the balance can be shifted either way.