Cracking down on leaks....

[futurebeachbum]

Article in the NYT called U.S. Pressing Its Crackdown Against Leaks

It discusses how the Administration is pursuing people who leak information to the media.

Some of the interesting quotes from the article include:

The Justice Department shows no sign of rethinking its campaign to punish unauthorized disclosures to the news media, with five criminal cases so far under President Obama, compared with three under all previous presidents combined.

Apparently, the ease with which people can get info to the media has caused the Administration to crack down.

The string of cases reflects a broad belief across two administrations and in both parties in Congress that leaks have gotten out of hand

Information is like hydrogen. It is very difficult to contain and wants to be free. What they are doing reminds me a lot of the way that the RIAA reacted to digital music (and sharing.)

In particular, critics of the leak prosecutions question the appropriateness of using the Espionage Act, a World War I-era statute first applied to leaks in the Pentagon Papers case in 1971. They say it is misleading and unfair to lump the likes of Mr. Drake and Mr. Kim with traitors like Aldrich Ames or Robert P. Hanssen, who sold secrets to the Soviet Union.

“You’re accusing someone who’s doing something irresponsible and wrong,” said Mr. Schoenfeld, of the Hudson Institute in Washington. “But he might be a well-intentioned civil servant and he’s not trying to betray his country

Instead of adapting their processes and controls to the reality of information control today, the Administration's plan to just litigate it until it goes away. That didn't work for the RIAA and it probably won't work for the government.

The part that I find the most interesting is:

Lisa O. Monaco, a Justice Department official awaiting Senate confirmation as head of the department’s national security division, testified last month that “it would be my priority to continue the aggressive pursuit of these investigations” because leaks do “tremendous damage.” She noted that “twice as many” cases had been pursued in 18 months than in all previous administrations.

Its more than slightly ironic that this administration who pledged openness and transparency to the nation is pursuing twice as many leak cases that in all 43 previous administrations.

 

[Andy A]

There are leaks and then there are leaks. If leaks are of a political nature and only do harm to political expression that is one thing. Or if the leak is of a similar nature and of no harm to national security, they are going to happen. They shouldn't but they will. When leaks are found to be damaging to National security in any form, the person responsible for the leak should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. The same goes double for any leak that puts any military member further in harm's way. There job is tough enough as it is. One more thing. If members of the press are concerned about their country, its status in the world and those members of the military defending it, they will analyze what they receive for print and refuse to publish what could be harmful to the nation and its interests. Unfortunately, many times this is not the case. I often wonder if the members of the press are aware of the awesome responsibility that is incumbent upon them. Many times it does not seem to be the case.

 

[Bob Wells]

Andy, although I understand what you are saying, if you are saying it is a personal responsibility of the press to CENSOR what is printed, but unfortunately I would be concerned with the idea of any type of legislation or court limiting the Freedom of the Press and ENCOURAGING censorship.

 

[LuciferSam]

Andy, although I understand what you are saying, if you are saying it is a personal responsibility of the press to CENSOR what is printed, but unfortunately I would be concerned with the idea of any type of legislation or court limiting the Freedom of the Press and ENCOURAGING censorship.

You have to go after the people entrusted by the government with keeping the information secret. They are the source of the leaks. It starts with them. It's not the press as you point out.

 

[Bob Wells]

I guess I read Andy's post differently than you. I won't disagree that those that hold the secrets should maintain the secrets, but sometimes there are secrets that should not be kept because they violate the public trust and violate the law. IMO

 

[Andy A]

You are both correct in the way you read my post. If it is classified information and it is not for public release, it should be kept where it belongs. Many leaks are the result of people betraying the trust instilled in them. It would be correct for the press, also, to determine if something should or should not be released. Many times they err, IMO, to the detrement of the nation, the military or even our economy depending on the item released.