4 ms·

Since the metadata in the document the Maddow show received matches the metadata in the document that The Intercept published, Occam's razor would suggest, as T

Since the metadata in the document the Maddow show received matches the metadata in the document that The Intercept published, Occam's razor would suggest, as TI quotes Maddow: "someone appears to have used your [TI's] doc as a template for ginning up a fake one" The important take-away here seems to be that news outlets should expect to receive more purportedly "leaked" documents which are actually forgeries, created for the purposes of discrediting news teams that are less diligent about checking their sources, and to muddy the waters about certain stories. In other words, "fake leaks" to create "fake news".

elihu 9y ago
In this case, if the forger was trying to discredit news sources and create general confusion and drama it was apparently successful.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
a3n 9y ago
Leaks are illegal, because their release says something about a country that, when public, weakens it in some way. It seems that a fake leak might also damage a country. I wonder if fake leaks are illegal? It sounds vaguely like espionage to me. The Russians have been accused of planting fake stories to influence elections, for example. How is this different?
- dogma1138 9y ago
  Leaks are illegal because they violate laws governing classified information. Releasing a leak by an entity not under the jurisdiction of the law of the affected party is not illegal. That said you might be prosecuted for possessing illegally obtained material in any case since the information is technically a property of the affected party. Espionage laws are tricky you it's not easy to prosecute a foreign agent unless they are a citizen or a lawful resident of your own country. Things are more complex when dealing with real world agents since every country brings them in under a diplomatic cover so at best you can deport them or illegally detain them.
- eesmith 9y ago
  Leaks in general are not illegal. Politicians leak things deliberately all the time. They get to call their leaks things like "trial balloons". The process is almost entirely sanctioned by the press, which refers to them with phrases like "an unnamed source close to the president". Staff leak things too, including by accident. At the bar, "Did you hear the great fishing story Senator X told Senator Y in the meeting today?" could be a leak that X and Y had a meeting. Improper disclosing of classified information is illegal. I think that's what you meant to say. A fake leak could be an example of black propaganda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda . It may or may not be illegal, depending on what it contains. Slanderous fake leaks like http://www.snopes.com/mcnatt-racist-memo/ http://www.snopes.com/mcnatt-racist-memo/ could result in civil prosecution. In almost all cases it's likely covered under the 1st amendment. For example, Jessup's description of the purported Philadelphia Experiment is a false leak about a secret military project, but clearly covered under freedom of speech.

elihu 9y ago

In this case, if the forger was trying to discredit news sources and create general confusion and drama it was apparently successful.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

a3n 9y ago

Leaks are illegal, because their release says something about a country that, when public, weakens it in some way. It seems that a fake leak might also damage a country. I wonder if fake leaks are illegal? It sounds vaguely like espionage to me. The Russians have been accused of planting fake stories to influence elections, for example. How is this different?

dogma1138 9y ago
Leaks are illegal because they violate laws governing classified information. Releasing a leak by an entity not under the jurisdiction of the law of the affected party is not illegal. That said you might be prosecuted for possessing illegally obtained material in any case since the information is technically a property of the affected party. Espionage laws are tricky you it's not easy to prosecute a foreign agent unless they are a citizen or a lawful resident of your own country. Things are more complex when dealing with real world agents since every country brings them in under a diplomatic cover so at best you can deport them or illegally detain them.
eesmith 9y ago
Leaks in general are not illegal. Politicians leak things deliberately all the time. They get to call their leaks things like "trial balloons". The process is almost entirely sanctioned by the press, which refers to them with phrases like "an unnamed source close to the president". Staff leak things too, including by accident. At the bar, "Did you hear the great fishing story Senator X told Senator Y in the meeting today?" could be a leak that X and Y had a meeting. Improper disclosing of classified information is illegal. I think that's what you meant to say. A fake leak could be an example of black propaganda. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda . It may or may not be illegal, depending on what it contains. Slanderous fake leaks like http://www.snopes.com/mcnatt-racist-memo/ http://www.snopes.com/mcnatt-racist-memo/ could result in civil prosecution. In almost all cases it's likely covered under the 1st amendment. For example, Jessup's description of the purported Philadelphia Experiment is a false leak about a secret military project, but clearly covered under freedom of speech.