Wikileaks was founded by Julian Assange.  Wikileaks claims to be “a multi-jurisdictional public service designed to protect whistleblowers, journalists and activists who have sensitive materials to communicate to the public.”  The website goes on to claim ”we believe that transparency in government activities leads to reduced corruption, better government and stronger democracies.”

While the website justifies its purposes by talking about government secrets, the website routinely discloses business secrets and violates U.S. copyright laws.

Recently, Wikileaks has released classified U.S. military documents regarding the war in Afghanistan.  Some newspapers have reported that the leaked documents contain the names of Afghan citizens that have cooperated with the U.S. military.  Some fear that the lives of those Afghan citizens are now at risk.

Strangely, Wikileaks claims that sunshine is good for everyone but itself.  For a long time, Wikileaks kept the name of its founder secret.  Since being exposed, Mr. Assange has admitted his involvement.  Wikileaks brags on its website that it has never disclosed the name of any source of leaked documentation.

Wikileaks double standard is astonishing.  Apparently, Mr. Assange  feels that the world is a better place when he decides what information is public and what information is private.  His decision to divulge the names of Afghanis who have cooperated in fighting Al Qaeda while keeping secret the names of U.S. service men who have violated the law by leaking classified documents is not only puzzling but troubling.  I disagree with Mr. Assange.  The world is not a better place when he decides what information is secret and what information is public.  That is what we have laws for.  Good government means that everyone is subject to the law.  The law should be applied equally.  Mr. Assange does not believe that.  In his arrogance, he believes that he should decide what to make public and what to keep private.  In his arrogance, he believes that he should decide what documents are classified, when copyrights should apply and when trade secrets should be disclosed.  While he claims that his actions support good government, he is wrong.  His actions further chaos and corruption.  Whenever power is concentrated in one man, democracy and good government suffer.

To date, Mr. Assange has been able to act with impunity because he has operated in countries that are willing to protect him.  Sweden is perhaps the worst culprit.  Those countries need to wake up and recognize that the decision of what information to make public and what information to keep private should not rest in any one individual.