We owe a staggering debt to the new generation of whistleblowers- I call them gen-X- Bradley Manning, Edward Snowden, Thomas Drake , Jesselyn Radack, and to OpEdNews, to Rob Kall and Joan Brunwasser. Yes, thanks to Julian Assange, we know that the United States has engaged in wholesale surveillance, even tapping the phones of leaders of countries of our closest allies. There seems to be no end of the revelations this new gen-X Whistleblower group produces. More to the point, gen-X whistleblowers stole and published this incredible information with relatively very little effort. The Big Brothers disdainfully and nonchalantly left these huge databases lying around, easily found and scooped up by the young group of secret stealers.
I love Aldous Huxley's use of the "Brave New World". It is taken from Shakespeare's "The Tempest," and spoken by the innocent child Miranda. Her father looked upon the supposed New World, and saw that Miranda had mistaken the corruption of the old. "Tis new to thee.," meaning it was not new at all. The dilemmas of the new digital age have been faced before- and will be faced again.
We've faced dilemmas of privacy and transparency before, and we can do it again. We have to apply what we already know to electronic privacy.
Individuals, and very small groups, made a huge difference to the world in 2013. But what will come next? Can we find a way to create a totally ethical Wikileaks?
Whistleblowers of the world- unite! Let's find common cause and not repeat the mistakes of this film. Let's avoid the clashes that ended up crippling Wikileaks!
The time is now. Whistleblowers- learn from Wikileaks, and move forward, better, more ethical, and ready to succeed.
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