WikiLeaks was founded in 2006 for publishing databases of censored or otherwise restricted materials involving wars, spying and corruption.
- In 2010, WikiLeaks featured classified U.S. military documents and videos from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- It serves as a whistleblower platform over the internet.
Whistleblowing
it is the disclosure of information to the public or some higher authority about any wrongdoing, which could be in the form of fraud, corruption, etc. in a company or government.
- It promotes accountability and transparency, exposes malpractices,protects public interest, etc.
Ethical issues involved in Wikileaks case
- Protection of whistleblowers vs. national security: balance between safeguarding individuals who expose wrongdoing, and ensuring government responsibility while considering threats to national security.
- Media responsibility in handling classified information: The media has a moral duty to tell the public about government action, while handling dangerous or sensitive information in a responsible manner.
- Public right to information vs. government need for confidentiality: balance between citizens' right to know about government's actions and the government's necessity to uphold confidentiality in matters of national security.
Indian law/rule to protect government secret information
|