What is the effect of WikiLeaks for Freedom of Information? by Päivikki Karhula. FAIFE
Posted by Celia Walter | 24 Jan, 2011IFLA Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression (FAIFE)
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Impact of the cable leaks on intellectual freedom
What is the possible impact of WikiLeaks? Is it going to increase or restore the space of free speech or advance transparency of public documents? Or is it going to have the opposite effect and make governments strengthen their restrictions and increase different forms of Internet censorship?
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There are several valid concerns and evident signs about stricter legislation and more in depth surveillance practices which may find their grounds on WikiLeaks...
Another a crucial issue is the protection of sources. What will happen to journalists' rights to publish leaked information?
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The consequences of losing a right to protect sources may lead to extreme transparency, but does it lead to the kind of transparency which would support democracy and civil society? American journalist, Claire Berlinski reveals the faulty logic of this kind of philosophy in her statement: "The hypocrisy and double-standard of journalists, in particular, who fail to understand why the government must sometimes protect its sources of information is mind-blowing. Journalists, of all people, should understand this better than anyone else. Many sources would lose their jobs, their reputations, their liberty or their lives for talking to journalists on the record. If the people who spoke to us didn't think we could keep their names out of the story, they would never open their mouths again. Would that make the world more transparent?"
Library and information field and WikiLeaks
According to the ALA (American Library Association), WikiLeaks relates to many policy issues including access to government information, censorship and the blocking of web sites, government secrecy and the over-classification of government information, treatment of whistleblowers, government transparency and the legalities surrounding classified information. Presently, it looks like WikiLeaks has raised dozens of political and legal questions which will take time to respond to.
Also, in the library field there have been controversial approaches to WikiLeaks. Library of Congress have blocked access to WikiLeaks...
From FAIFE's point of view it would be valuable to focus on the direct and indirect censorship effects of WikiLeaks in different countries, organizations and libraries. However, as indicated, WikiLeaks may also be used as a case to support such new bills, surveillance practices and use of technologies which extend capabilities of censorship and data surveillance. Unfortunately, there is not yet much evidence of the development trend towards another direction: to strengthen transparency and increase the space for freedom of speech within the aftermath of WikiLeaks.Link to html version of article in full:
http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/what-is-the-effect-of-wikileaks-for-freedom-of-information
Link to pdf version of article in full:
http://www.ifla.org/files/faife/publications/spotlights/wikileaks-karhula.pdf