Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 5 (2014 - 2015)
“Chelsea Manning interviewed at the Wired Next Festival, Milano, May 2018” by Mattia Luigi Nappi under CC BY-SA 4.0.
In 2014, several significant events unfolded, shaping the world and capturing the attention of the media. It was a year of controversy, leaks, geopolitical tensions, and debates surrounding surveillance.
The year started with an ex-contractor at the State Department pleading guilty in a leak case, which raised concerns about national security and the protection of classified information. The Attorney General also signed new rules to limit access to journalists' records, sparking a debate about press freedom and government transparency.
In February, the world turned its attention to Crimea, as tensions rose between Russia and the West. Russia's annexation of Crimea led to international condemnation, with President Putin defending his actions and denouncing the West. However, experts warned that the Crimeans' celebration might be short-lived, and the region's economy could face precarious times due to its dependence on Russia.
The year also saw several developments related to high-profile individuals involved in leaks and intelligence controversies. Chelsea Manning, previously known as Bradley Manning, won the right to change her name. The case shed light on the impact of leaks on national security and the consequences faced by whistleblowers.
In May, a book revealed a wider net of U.S. spying on envoys, further fueling the debate on government surveillance and privacy. Meanwhile, Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency (NSA) contractor, was granted an extension of three more years in Russia. Snowden's revelations about the NSA's surveillance programs continued to have repercussions globally.
In the midst of these events, Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, remained a prominent figure. His lawyer welcomed Swedish prosecutors to question him in London, where he had sought refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy since 2012. The sexual assault investigation against Assange continued, raising questions about his fate and the role of whistleblowers in the modern age.
As 2014 drew to a close, debates about surveillance, leaks, and government transparency persisted. The media highlighted the flaws and doubts surrounding the NSA's warrantless spying programs, and the Patriot Act faced revisions supported by both parties. France and Germany also limited their cooperation with the U.S. over data gathering, reflecting global concerns about privacy and surveillance.
The year 2015 marked further developments in the ongoing saga of leaks, surveillance, and political controversies. The N.S.A.'s bulk collection of call data was ruled illegal, and Germany limited its cooperation with the U.S. on data gathering, illustrating the global impact of the surveillance debate.
In August, time was running out on part of the Assange sex assault investigation, intensifying the speculation about his future. The New York Times disclosed previously classified N.S.A. files, detailing partnerships with AT&T and Verizon and raising further questions about the extent of government surveillance and the role of telecommunications companies.
Outside the realm of leaks and surveillance, the political landscape was also dynamic. The 2016 presidential campaign began to take shape, with Hillary Clinton, the former Secretary of State, making populist appeals and contrasting herself with President Obama. Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders gained support from a legion of tech volunteers, showcasing the impact of grassroots movements in politics.
2015 also saw the rise of Donald Trump on Twitter, as he mastered the platform and used it as a powerful tool during his campaign. Edward Snowden, the infamous whistleblower, joined Twitter and gained a substantial following. His actions continued to polarize opinions, with the European Parliament urging protection for him.
As the year came to a close, controversies continued to surround the Clintons. Anti-Clinton authors dedicated their book to a Holocaust denier, fueling further debates and controversies. The political landscape shifted, with Jill Stein, a Harvard graduate, facing an uphill battle in her quest for the presidency.
Overall, 2014 and 2015 were marked by significant events and debates surrounding leaks, surveillance, geopolitical tensions, and the political landscape. The actions of figures like Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, and Chelsea Manning brought these issues to the forefront, sparking discussions about government transparency, privacy, and national security.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 5, 2023
Previous: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 4 (2013)
Next: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 6 (January 2016 - June 2016)
Return to start: Profile In Focus | Wikileaks
Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6 (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Wikileaks - Part 5 (2014 - 2015):
Ex-Contractor at State Dept. Pleads Guilty in Leak Case – The New York Times February 7, 2014
Putin’s Playbook: The Strategy Behind Russia’s Takeover of Crimea – The Atlantic March 2, 2014
Putin Reclaims Crimea for Russia and Bitterly Denounces the West – The New York Times March 18, 2014
If History Is a Guide, Crimeans’ Celebration May Be Short-Lived – The New York Times March 18, 2014
Russian Aggression Puts NATO in Spotlight – The New York Times March 18, 2014
Kansas: Manning Wins Right to Change Name – The New York Times April 24, 2014
Iraq’s oil police vs the rebel saboteurs – Al Jazeera May 8, 2014
Trying to Salvage Remains of Blackwater Case – The New York Times May 11. 2014
Book Reveals Wider Net of U.S. Spying on Envoys – The New York Times May 12, 2014
Iraq’s Christians See Putin As Savior – Daily Beast June 29, 2014
In the Killing Fields of Ukraine with Children Who Saw the MH17 Horror – Daily Beast July 20, 2014
Snowden Said to Be Allowed 3 More Years in Russia – The New York Times August 7, 2014
Everything you need to know about the Ukraine crisis – Vox September 3, 2014
Nato alliance key dates – in 80 seconds – BBC September 4, 2014
The Holder of Secrets – The New Yorker October 10, 2014
‘Citizenfour’ Is Mesmerizing (If You Don’t Mind the Omissions) – Daily Beast October 20, 2014
Intent on Defying an All-Seeing Eye – The New York Times October 23, 2014
For Guccifer, Hacking Was Easy. Prison Is Hard. – The New York Times November 10, 2014
PETRAEUS PLEA DEAL REVEALS TWO-TIER JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR LEAKS – The Intercept March 3, 2015
What’s happening to Crimea a year after Russia annexation- USA Today March 19, 2015
Vladimir Putin’s formative German years – BBC March 27, 2015
Emails Reveal Discord Over Blackwater Charges – The New York Times April 12, 2015
Patriot Act Faces Revisions Backed by Both Parties – The New York Times April 30, 2015
Lawmakers in France Move to Vastly Expand Surveillance – The New York Times May 5, 2015
N.S.A. Collection of Bulk Call Data Is Ruled Illegal – The New York Times May 7, 2015
Germany Limits Cooperation With U.S. Over Data Gathering – The New York Times May 7, 2015
House Votes to End N.S.A.’s Bulk Phone Data Collection – The New York Times May 13, 2015
Snowden Sees Some Victories, From a Distance – The New York Times May 19, 2015
Edward Snowden: The World Says No to Surveillance | Opinion – The New York Times June 4, 2015
Edward Snowden and U.S. Surveillance | Opinion – The New York Times June 5, 2015
Russia and Europe’s extremist parties find common cause – USA Today June 25, 2015
French President Denies Julian Assange’s Request for Protection – The New York Times July 3, 2015
Litvinenko: A deadly trail of polonium – July 28, 2015
What is polonium-210? – BBC July 31, 2015
Trump campaign claims it fired top adviser – who says he quit – CNN August 10, 2015
Vladimir Putin – Brittanica August 11, 2015
AT&T Helped U.S. Spy on Internet on a Vast Scale – The New York Times August 15, 2015
Legion of Tech Volunteers Lead a Charge for Bernie Sanders – The New York Times September 3, 2015
The GOP’s dangerous ‘debate’ on vaccines and autism – The Washington Post September 17, 2015
EDWARD SNOWDEN IS ON TWITTER: @SNOWDEN – The Intercept September 29, 2015
Now Following the N.S.A. on Twitter, @Snowden – The New York Times September 29, 2015
European Parliament Urges Protection for Edward Snowden – The New York Times October 29, 2015
Harvard Grad Jill Stein Faces Uphill Battle for Presidency – The Harvard Crimson November 30, 2015
Hillary Clinton – The New York Times December 19, 2015