Dan White wrote:
The ACLU is unlikely to get into the Wikileaks business.
No org headed by a lawyer will break the law, on the contrary will enforce it stringently, above and below the table. Nor will a journalist working for a commercial outlet. The perks of privilege for both industries are just too beneficial. (WikiLeaks was taken over by lawyers and journalists precursing Snowden's takeover.) Oh, and they shop clients and sources through confabs in chambers and consultation with officials, and, really nasty, by access to classified and secret information. Does that sound like dual-use comsec, yes, that is what it is.
I understand how distasteful working in the belly of the beast might be but isn't it one of the most needed things cyperpunks can do right now?
It's time to win the public brain trust war. Leaks, in the last year, have done much to shift public opinion, and will likely continue to help tremendously. That will only get us so far (in the US). We (the larger tech community) need to cash in that momentum and turn that into political change, particularly at the legislative level. However, that path needs charismatic leaders, i.e. Lawrence Lessig, to actually run for office.
Far too many lawyers are in government. Push some techs. Go crazy, push a bunch of cryptographer. Not those under control of in thrall to lawyers. Any of those charismatics untethered? Coda: IANAL is never to be flashed as a sign of cowardice, brain-washing, intimidation, ignorance. It's other side of the king's coin of Godwin's Law.