Rebel Leaks

WikiLeaks will soon have some competition, or perhaps a safer way to disseminate information.

Several people who defected from WikiLeaks after conflicts with Julian Assange, will launch a new site called OpenLeaks. According to a Swedish newspaper, those launching the site “while supporting the purpose and goals of WikiLeaks”, have a different set of goals this time around.  Their goals are to “build a strong, transparent platform to support whistleblowers—both in terms of technology and politics-- while at the same time encouraging others to start similar projects.”  Their short-term goal is to create a democracy among the members, rather than having a leader.

Most importantly, OpenLeaks intends to make their site a neutral party, “without a political agenda except from the dissemination of information.” They don’t intend to publish any document directly and in their own name, and thereby hope to avoid the political pressure plaguing WikiLeaks.  They make the interesting observation that politicians do not get angry at newspapers using WikiLeaks sources, and according to Forbes, the project is partnered with five newspapers worldwide and interested in expanding to anyone wanting to participate.

Julian Assange, in a Forbes report, states, “The supply of leaks is very large. It’s helpful for us to have more people n this industry. It’s protective to us.”

Image by Poster Boy NYC on Flickr courtesy of Creative Commons Licensing