National MP Hamish Walker and political powerbroker Michelle Boag have admitted leaking confidential patient information – but does that make them legally liable too?
Federal home affairs minister Peter Dutton says the government’s “expectation” is that federal police should consider the importance of press freedom before investigating leaks to journalists.
Politicians have been leaking secrets to journalists as long as newspapers have existed. But it’s getting more difficult thanks to surveillance technology.
Margot Susca, American University School of Communication
American citizens have long favored government openness over secrecy. But with heightened anti-leak and anti-press rhetoric, do some now want strengthened government control of information?
WikiLeaks’ latest release details what it claims is the CIA’s hacking activities, including compromising phones, TVs, cars and becoming an NSA with less accountability.
With an explosion of media outlets that don’t adhere to mainstream journalistic standards, it’s became difficult for readers to know whether to trust reports based on unnamed sources and leaks.