What did Julian Assange do? | ABC News In-Depth

Summary

In 2010, WikiLeaks and its editor Julian Assange became notorious for releasing classified military footage and documents, including the 'Collateral Murder' video and the Afghan War Diary. These disclosures highlighted civilian casualties and military misconduct, sparking debates on transparency and press freedom. However, the unredacted release of sensitive information put lives at risk and drew criticism. Assange's subsequent legal battles, including rape allegations and asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy, culminated in his arrest and potential extradition to the US, where he faces charges under the Espionage Act for his role in publishing the leaks.

Takeaways

• 🌐 2010 was a pivotal year for WikiLeaks, catapulting it from obscurity to notoriety as it released a series of controversial documents.
• 🔎 'Collateral Murder' was a video released by WikiLeaks in April 2010, showing a US Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad that resulted in civilian deaths, including two Reuters journalists.
• 🔍 The video was controversial as it was not censored or edited for sensitive content, leading to accusations of endangering lives by revealing the identities of those involved.
• 📚 In July 2010, WikiLeaks published the 'Afghan War Diary,' a collection of secret US military reports about the war in Afghanistan, highlighting the grim realities of the conflict.
• 🗞️ Major news outlets like The New York Times, Der Spiegel, and The Guardian collaborated with WikiLeaks, but disagreed on the extent of redaction needed to protect sensitive information.
• 📈 In October 2010, WikiLeaks released a massive trove of 400,000 classified files on the Iraq War, detailing atrocities, torture, and civilian deaths, further fueling public debate on transparency and war.
• 🌐 November 2010 saw WikiLeaks publish 251,000 US diplomatic cables, exposing sensitive diplomatic communications and potentially endangering sources and relationships with other countries.
• 🚨 Julian Assange, the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, faced legal challenges, including an arrest warrant from Sweden over sexual assault allegations, leading to his asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
• 🏛️ The US government pursued a case against Chelsea Manning, the intelligence analyst who leaked the military material to WikiLeaks, charging her under the Espionage Act and sentencing her to 35 years in prison.
• 📊 WikiLeaks' actions were seen by some as a threat to national security and diplomatic relations, while others viewed them as a necessary step towards transparency and accountability.

Q & A

What was the significance of the year 2010 for Wikileaks?

2010 was a pivotal year for Wikileaks as it released several high-profile leaks, including the 'Collateral Murder' video, the Afghan War Diary, and the Iraq War Logs, establishing itself as a major force in the realm of whistleblowing and transparency.

What is the 'Collateral Murder' video?

The 'Collateral Murder' video is a recording from a US Apache helicopter showing an attack in Baghdad in 2007, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people, including two Reuters journalists. The video was released by Wikileaks in April 2010.

Who was the US intelligence analyst accused of leaking the 'Collateral Murder' video?

The US intelligence analyst accused of leaking the 'Collateral Murder' video was Private Chelsea Manning, who was known as Bradley Manning at the time.

What was the content of the Afghan War Diary released by Wikileaks?

The Afghan War Diary, released by Wikileaks in July 2010, contained tens of thousands of secret US military reports about the war in Afghanistan, revealing a grim and unvarnished picture of the conflict.

Why was the release of the Afghan War Diary controversial?

The release of the Afghan War Diary was controversial because Wikileaks did not redact the names of Afghan civilians, potentially putting them in danger and driving a wedge between Julian Assange and some of his colleagues and media partners.

What were the Iraq War Logs?

The Iraq War Logs were a collection of 400,000 classified US military files on the Iraq War, detailing atrocities, civilian deaths, and the involvement of Iraqi security forces in torture. Wikileaks released these files in October 2010.

What were the US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks in November 2010?

In November 2010, Wikileaks released 251,000 US diplomatic cables, which covered interactions between US embassies from 1966 to 2010, revealing sensitive and often embarrassing details about US foreign relations.

Why was Julian Assange arrested in the UK in 2010?

Julian Assange was arrested in the UK in 2010 due to an arrest warrant from Sweden over rape and sexual assault allegations, which he denied.

What happened to Julian Assange after he entered the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2012?

After entering the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2012, Julian Assange was granted diplomatic asylum and remained there for seven years, avoiding extradition to Sweden and the US.

What were the charges brought against Julian Assange by the US in 2019?

In 2019, Julian Assange was charged by the US with 18 criminal counts, including violating the Espionage Act by conspiring with Chelsea Manning to obtain, receive, and disclose classified information. The charges could result in a life sentence.