4 ms·
The fact that we now "expect" journalists and whistle blowers (to war crimes) to be prosecuted and imprisoned is very upsetting and unjust.
by emilsedgh 6y ago
The fact that we now "expect" journalists and whistle blowers (to war crimes) to be prosecuted and imprisoned is very upsetting and unjust.
- implements 6y agoHe’s being prosecuted for computer misuse, though. You’re argument is that journalists and whistle blowers are above the law - but they aren’t. And that’s before you take an objective stance about JA’s good faith and personal motivations. If you set up a “leaking” organisation, and use it to selectively embarrass certain governments and politicians while coincidentally building your brand and obtaining a measure of power, influence and money ... you better make sure you fully obey the law.
- pjc50 6y agoI do think there's a strong case that committing an administrative crime of leaking information in order to expose a far more serious crime is a moral act. In general.
- cies 6y agoThis is why whistle blowers need protection. Govt should abide by law, if not, blowing the whistle should be rewarded not punished.
- nickysielicki 6y agoHe didn’t misuse any computers though. He claimed to have rainbow tables for NTLM hashes (when asked by his source) and then was sent an NTLM hash to crack by his source. He never cracked any hashes or sent anything back. Manning gained no additional access to any computers by the action of Assange. They’re charging him with conspiracy to crack hashes. This is a technically literate forum and we should talk about things as they really are, not hand waving nonsense like “misuse of computers.” In some sense he’s being persecuted for knowing that Hashcat exists. Edit: read for yourself: https://blog.erratasec.com/2019/04/assange-indicted-for-breaking-password.html?m=1 https://blog.erratasec.com/2019/04/assange-indicted-for-brea...