For years, government transactions and contracts have been kept from public who may wish to review where their taxes go and how their elected officials act in their behalf. However, with the creation of the internet, classified government information is slowly leaking to the public and sites such as WikiLeaks reveal a darker picture of known government decisions that remains controversial even at the present time. Arguments from supporters and opposition of WikiLeaks have grown throughout the years, posing a question as to whether or not WikiLeaks is beneficial or detrimental to the public. Although some may see WikiLeaks as a threat to national security due to the nature of its disclosures, WikiLeaks highlights the necessity of transparency and policy reform now that the world is now interconnected through the internet.
II. Supporting Arguments Against WikiLeaks
A. WikiLeaks disclosures would affect military operations.
B. WikiLeaks disclosures would affect government-public/diplomatic relations.
III. Arguments Supporting WikiLeaks
A. WikiLeaks disclosures presses for the importance of transparency.
B. WikiLeaks disclosures presses for policy reform.
IV. Conclusion/Restate Thesis
While WikiLeaks’ disclosures can indeed threaten countries due to the nature of its information it releases, governments can use it as a benchmark on how they can improve information sharing and operations and show an open government to the public now becoming aware of its role in society.
WikiLeaks
For years, government transactions and contracts have been kept from public who may wish to review where their taxes go and how their elected officials act in their behalf. However, with the creation of the internet, classified government information is slowly leaking to the public and sites such as WikiLeaks reveal a darker picture of known government decisions that remains controversial even at the present time. Arguments from supporters and opposition of WikiLeaks have grown throughout the years, posing a question as to whether or not WikiLeaks is beneficial or detrimental to the public. Although WikiLeaks disclosures would threaten military operations and public and diplomatic relations, WikiLeaks highlights the necessity of government transparency and policy reform now that the world is now interconnected through the internet.
Parties against WikiLeaks highlight two major arguments against the website: its threat to military operations and the impact it has for the public and diplomatic relations. In terms of its threat to military action, Fenster (2012) stated that the revelations of WikiLeaks would threaten ground operations as it would reveal sensitive information such as the names of parties aiding these operations and the nature of operations. When WikiLeaks revealed information regarding America’s operations in Afghanistan, Taliban itself had released a statement that they will be using the information from WikiLeaks to determine collaborators to the US effort and affect US operations . Opponents also highlight that WikiLeaks would impact government-public relations in a domestic and foreign level. Fenster (2012) indicated that in terms of a foreign level, WikiLeaks disclosures may disable cooperation between countries and threaten operations in foreign territories. Information from WikiLeaks can be used by other countries as a blackmail for other countries, especially if the information include names of collaborators for another country . Public level is also affected by WikiLeaks, especially as the public would now be weary of the government. When WikiLeaks exposed the nature of Bush Administration dealings, especially for the War on Terror, the public saw the hidden dealings that may affect the country in the future .
However, while it may be true that some may see WikiLeaks disclosures to pose several national security threats, their disclosures call for new measures for transparency. In another article written by Fenster (2012), he stated that WikiLeaks served as a brand that would challenge state secrecy and open a channel for governments to become more open to the public. The public would now have the power to hold the government accountable regarding their actions, and in turn, cause the government to reconsider its operations and bring a more positive government impact . With the government now open to transparency, policy reform is now called within the government to bolster its operations and keep up with the changing world. According to Crowley (2012), WikiLeaks’ disclosures calls for governments like to the US to consider if its actions matches its words and uphold their task in protecting its people. The government could use WikiLeaks’ disclosures to determine what tools are needed to stop information leaks and still remain transparent to the public especially online .
As the world is now connected through the internet, secret information would not remain secret for long especially if it entails government secrets. With the public now informed through the net, there is a necessity for the government to take time to reconsider how these new sources of information could be used and change itself for the better. While WikiLeaks’ disclosures can indeed threaten countries due to the nature of its information it releases, governments can use it as a benchmark on how they can improve information sharing and operations and show an open government to the public now becoming aware of its role in society.
References
Crowley, P. (2012). The Rise of Transparency and the Decline of Secrecy in the Age of Global
and Social Media. Pennsylvania State Journal of Law and International Affairs , 1 (2), 241-259.
Fenster, M. (2012). Disclosure's Effects: WikiLeaks and Transparency. Iowa Law Review , 97,
753-805.
-. (2012). The Transparency Fix: Advocating Legal Rights and Their Alternatives in the Pursuit of a Visible State. University of Pittsburgh Law Review , 73, 443-503.
