Digital whistleblowing is a relatively recent issue. With the proliferation of the Internet and digitally stored information, whistleblowers can not only gain access to covert information, but can also easily spread this information over the Internet. Ironically, much of the recent prosecution against digital-age whistleblowers is based on the Espionage Act of 1917.

Since 2008, seven defendants have been charged with violating the Espionage Act of 1917. What are the names of the defendants? What type of information is each defendant accused of revealing? How many of the defendants were convicted?

Visit the WikiLeaks site at www.wikileaks. org. Select an article and read it. Considering the date, source, and content of the article, explain why or why not its significant.

Go to the WikiLeaks About page at wikileaks.org/About.html to find out how WikiLeaks editors verify material that is submitted anonymously. What are the steps of the verification procedure? How does WikiLeaks protect anonymous sources?

Look up Aldrich Ames, who was convicted of espionage in 1994. What type of information did Ames reveal? What was his motivation? Would you classify Ames as a whistleblower? Why or why not?

Whistleblower Edward Snowden made sure to identify himself as the person who was responsible for the release of NSA documents, and he publicly explained his reasons. Drake was also careful to identify himself and his sources and also explain why he released classified information. In contrast, WikiLeaks publishes material that has been submitted anonymously, so neither the source of the material nor the motivation for releasing it is known.

Consider these two approaches to whistleblowing, and suppose that you are employed by the Internal Revenue Service IT department in Washington, D.C. Congress is investigating the possibility that the commissioner of the IRS conspired with the White House to audit organizations that were likely to make significant donations to the presidents opponents during the next election. You have been asked to delete all of the commissioners email messages from servers and backups. Would you consider becoming a whistleblower? If so, would you use a public or an anonymous venue? Explain your answer.

You will respond to the questions at the bottom of the page under What Do You Think? When you come to class.

1. Before this project, had you ever read a WikiLeaks document?

2. Do you believe that Web sites, such as WikiLeaks, play a valuable role in maintaining the principles of democracy?

3. Do you believe the government authorities are best able to evaluate information that should be made public?