WikiLeaks to apply for Swedish licence

[maddezmom]

Source: The Local

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has revealed that he will submit a formal application this week for a Swedish publishing licence (utgivningsbevis) in order to guarantee that the website is covered by Swedish whistleblower protection laws.

Legal experts have speculated that the site may not be covered by Swedish legislation shielding journalists' sources unless it obtains a licence. WikiLeaks has been offered protection by two Swedish newspapers but Assange said further safeguards might prove necessary.

"We're dealing with organizations that don't obey the law. We're dealing with intelligence agencies," he told news agency TT.

Assange highlighted the importance of Sweden to WikiLeaks' work during his stay in the country as a guest of the Swedish Association of Christian Social Democrats.


Read more: http://www.thelocal.se/28380/20100815/

[cosmicone]

1. I hope he gets the license n/t

[ncteechur]

2. ironic that he talks about broken laws when he is breaking them

The importance of the information to the general American public is a separate issue from whether he can legally release it.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

4. What laws is he breaking?

He is not under US law and its not clear that there is extra territorial jurisdiction. US security laws do not apply to non-US citizens outside of the US.

Well I understand the furor, but I am yet to see a reasoned analysis of what laws that he is under that he has broken.

[bemildred]

5. Well said.

The fact that what he did is legal is precisely why it's so annoying to secretive governments.

It would seem true that some of the persons who gave materials to him have broken the law.

[superconnected]

10. If whistle blowers laws are put in place and followed, the people who give the information

will not be breaking the law. The US did pass whistle blowers laws several weeks ago. They recently started working on making them not cover Wikileaks, but I think the whistle blowers are still protected.

[bemildred]

14. Well, I think that would be nice if it is true, I don't really know.

I do think all this government dependency on secrecy is a crutch, it leads them to do stupid things, and they should learn to do business in the light of day, we'd all be better off.

[superconnected]

15. I agree totally. I'm still pissed that they want to specifically make Wikileaks unprotected.

It pretty much nullifies any good intent I though Feinstein had.

[Pavulon]

6. The same ones Gerald Bull broke

if he just keeps a snitch list for the taliban to kill no one will care. If he starts naming peoples names in the US or far more dangerous to him Jordanian intelligence community his family's safety could be compromised.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

7. Which is to say extra legal state assassination.

I am truly curious to see what legal claim the US could reasonably assert under these circumstances. We have all seen the sound bites, but I wonder what legal basis is really there.

[Downwinder]

8. No Copyright protection.

Documents of the Federal Government are public domain.

[inwiththenew]

11. I think he is alright

Even with the Jordanians. The only country I wouldn't put it past to make an example out of him is Russia. But what are the chances he has dirt on the Russians?

[Pavulon]

13. Who know how the money flows, thorium is a nasty thing

and the man apparently has children.. Leverage to anyone who has anything real to loose.

[superconnected]

9. -1

It's amazing we have people who would support secrets and lies by governments on DU.

[jaxx]

3. Some interesting info about the Swedish Assc of Xtian Social Democrats

I googled, had not heard of them before.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Association_of_Christian_Social_Democrats

http://islamineurope.blogspot.com/2009/08/sweden-christian-social-democrats-turn.html

[Vidar]

12. I hope he succeeds. Thankfully, Sweden, unlike the US, is still a civilized country.