WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Arrested

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dafman

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#2215680 12-Apr-2019 12:49

Rikkitic:

... undermining democratically elected governments

Interesting example, given that pro-Trump Roger Stone and Wikileaks communicated in the lead up to the 2016 election with a view to doing just that.

Rikkitic:

The world needs more like him.

No it doesn't.

However, happy to compromise and agree that the world needs more like Edward Snowden.

Rikkitic

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#2215735 12-Apr-2019 13:33

I'm not surprised that some people have swallowed the constant barrage of 'paint it black' Assange = devil's tool propaganda. It is hard to resist when something is constantly poured into your ears year after year.

I am not an Assange defender. I think he probably did some things that are indefensible. I have never met him but I suspect he probably is an irritating jerk with an inflated opinion of himself. But I genuinely believe he also did some very valuable things and it is good he did.

'Undermining democratically elected governments': You honestly don't see a difference between a private organisation like Wikileaks doing such a thing (if it did) and the government of the United States doing it?

'The world needs more like him': I'm sure the US authorities would have much preferred that the world never found out about its illegal and immoral activities so it could have carried on doing more of the same with no-one asking questions.

The real point here, which the Wikileaks critics conveniently forget, is that the secrets that were spilled did reveal activities on the part of the US government and its security agencies that were against the law and exceeded whatever authority they were operating under. Having these things come out have helped to curtail some of the excesses because now those tempted to cross a line have to worry that they may be outed. This is not a bad thing. Yes, as long as we have no way of being certain that the checks and balances are working, I think the world could use a few more Assanges and Snowdens. There is a huge imbalance in favour of those who operate in the shadows and insist that secrecy equals security. The rest of us need all the help we can get.

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Batman

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#2215775 12-Apr-2019 14:24

Wheelbarrow01:
A work colleague watched a YouTube video last night which claims the Ecuadorians called Police because after 7 years effectively locked up, he's gone insane and among other things, he's been smearing faeces on the embassy walls. According to the video, it's not known whether it was his own faeces or someone else's.

Note however that at the time of writing, the video has had just 17 views, and this information has been reported in precisely zero other places, so take it with a grain of salt....

Now that is completely original and ingenious, never heard that before. That could well be the get out of jail move of the century.

dafman

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#2215779 12-Apr-2019 14:30

I agree, in the early days, Wikileaks did very valuable things, but this is not the case in recent years. Collaborating with the Trump campaign to (allegedly) undermine the 2016 election being one example.

As for the present day, where Assange finds himself today is solely the consequence of him skipping bail on rape charges. Processing an extradition request from the US, if and when it happens, is a separate issue, the outcome of which we will have to wait on see on. If there is a genuine issue or journalistic freedom then there can be no is no guarantee that the US will be successful.

Bluntj

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#2215791 12-Apr-2019 14:33

dafman:

I agree, in the early days, Wikileaks did very valuable things, but this is not the case in recent years. Collaborating with the Trump campaign to (allegedly) undermine the 2016 election being one example.

As for the present day, where Assange finds himself today is solely the consequence of him skipping bail on rape charges. Processing an extradition request from the US, if and when it happens, is a separate issue, the outcome of which we will have to wait on see on. If there is a genuine issue or journalistic freedom then there can be no is no guarantee that the US will be successful.

I agree that some of the info stolen was of value and showed up corruption. This does not hide the fact that these networks were hacked and information stolen. That is a criminal act no matter how you look at it. I am sure the courts will decide.

dafman

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#2215803 12-Apr-2019 14:59

Bluntj:

This does not hide the fact that these networks were hacked and information stolen. That is a criminal act no matter how you look at it. I am sure the courts will decide.

They have already - Chelsea Manning was convicted and jailed for the hacking and theft.

She then passed the information onto Assange - which does raise the legitimate question as to whether he was complicit in the hacking/theft, or a journalist acting on information provided.

A local example. Journalist Nicky Hagan's Dirty Politics book was written using hacked and stolen data as the source. But he was not charged with any offence as he was not complicit in the theft.

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Batman

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#2215864 12-Apr-2019 16:34

dafman:
Bluntj:

This does not hide the fact that these networks were hacked and information stolen. That is a criminal act no matter how you look at it. I am sure the courts will decide.

They have already - Chelsea Manning was convicted and jailed for the hacking and theft.

She then passed the information onto Assange - which does raise the legitimate question as to whether he was complicit in the hacking/theft, or a journalist acting on information provided.

A local example. Journalist Nicky Hagan's Dirty Politics book was written using hacked and stolen data as the source. But he was not charged with any offence as he was not complicit in the theft.

Have a good lawyer, can get away with murder.

Bluntj

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#2216322 13-Apr-2019 09:39

Batman:
dafman:

Bluntj:

This does not hide the fact that these networks were hacked and information stolen. That is a criminal act no matter how you look at it. I am sure the courts will decide.

They have already - Chelsea Manning was convicted and jailed for the hacking and theft.

She then passed the information onto Assange - which does raise the legitimate question as to whether he was complicit in the hacking/theft, or a journalist acting on information provided.

A local example. Journalist Nicky Hagan's Dirty Politics book was written using hacked and stolen data as the source. But he was not charged with any offence as he was not complicit in the theft.

Have a good lawyer, can get away with murder.

It could be said he has already done 8 years in jail..self imposed. He probably enjoys his own company.

freitasm

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#2244388 24-May-2019 08:50

US government lays down 17 new charges, including espionage.

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Bluntj

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#2244399 24-May-2019 09:09

freitasm:

US government lays down 17 new charges, including espionage.

Im sure Trump will pardon him before he leaves office.

Rikkitic

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#2244405 24-May-2019 09:32

It would be nice if he did, but I doubt it.

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#2244406 24-May-2019 09:35

freitasm:
US government lays down 17 new charges, including espionage.

Well I for one am shocked that they would do that, after saying that no, they weren't charging him with espionage but only with computer hacking. Who'd've thought they would just lie like that?

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These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

freitasm

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#2357574 20-Nov-2019 07:39

Swedish prosecutors dropped the charges on Assange overnight.

He is still serving time for bail breach. US extradition still in play.

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