News leak facts for kids
A news leak happens when secret or private information is shared with the news media without permission. It can also mean a news company publishes information too early, even if they promised to wait.
Contents
What Are News Leaks?
Leaks often come from people who work for an organization and have access to interesting information. They might not be allowed to share it with reporters, but they do anyway. Sometimes, they believe sharing the information is important for the public interest, meaning it's good for everyone to know. They might think the news needs to come out quickly, or that it wouldn't become public otherwise.
Sometimes, people leak information to make themselves seem important. Leaks can happen on purpose or by accident. Someone might leak information to help a journalist, or just to spread secret news and influence what people think. These kinds of leaks are often done anonymously, meaning the person doesn't say who they are.
Sometimes, a little bit of information is shared with reporters "off the record." This means the reporters can't say who told them. This might happen before a big official announcement to get the public ready. It also gives reporters more time to write detailed stories, which can then be published right after the official news comes out. This way, the announcement makes a bigger splash. This is sometimes called "news management."
Some people leak information to try and control how the news is reported. If information seems secret, journalists might think it's more valuable. Also, if the person leaking stays anonymous, it's harder for others to check if the information is true or to say it's wrong.
Some leaks happen openly. For example, a politician might accidentally share secret information while talking to reporters.
Leaks can have big effects. For instance, former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon was very angry about leaks. This anger, along with his dislike for the press, led to events like the Watergate scandal. After secret government papers called the Pentagon Papers were published in 1971, Nixon's team worried about more leaks. They formed a group called the "White House Plumbers" to stop leaks. This group was involved in the break-in that led to the Watergate scandal, and President Nixon eventually resigned in 1974.
Why Do People Leak Information?
There are many reasons why secret information might be leaked:
- Testing the Waters: Politicians might want to see how the public reacts to their ideas before they fully commit to them. This is like sending up a "trial balloon" to see if it flies. If the idea is unpopular, they can pretend they never really suggested it.
- Gaining an Advantage: People with secret information might find it helpful to make it public without looking like they are the ones who shared it. For example, they might leak information that could embarrass political rivals or harm national security.
- Being a Whistleblower: Some people know secret information about things they believe are wrong or against the public interest. These people are often called "whistleblowers." They might leak the information to expose wrongdoing.
- Personal Gain: People might also be tempted to share secret information for their own benefit, like getting money.
Famous Leaks Around the World
International Leaks
- The Panama, Paradise, and Pandora Papers: These were huge collections of secret documents leaked in 2016, 2017, and 2021. They showed how wealthy people and companies used offshore tax havens to hide money and avoid taxes.
- The FinCEN Files: In 2020, documents from FinCEN (a U.S. government agency that fights financial crimes) were leaked. They showed how big banks moved dirty money around the world.
United States Leaks
- The Pentagon Papers: In 1971, a top-secret history of the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War was leaked and published by New York Times. It showed how the government had misled the public about the war.
- Watergate Scandal Leaks: A source, later known as FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt, leaked information about the Watergate scandal to The Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward. This helped uncover the scandal.
- US Diplomatic Cables Leak: In 2010, the organization WikiLeaks started releasing thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic messages that were given to them by Chelsea Manning. These cables revealed many details about U.S. foreign policy.
- NSA Leaks (Edward Snowden): In 2013, NSA employee Edward Snowden leaked secret documents. These documents showed that the U.S. (with its PRISM program) and British (with its Tempora program) governments were secretly collecting a lot of information about people's phone calls and internet use.
- Vault 7 Leaks: In 2017, a CIA employee named Joshua Adam Schulte leaked secret documents. These documents showed the CIA's abilities to spy electronically and conduct cyber warfare.
United Kingdom Leaks
- Spies for Peace: In 1963, a group of British anti-war activists broke into a secret government bunker. They photographed and copied documents about how the government planned to rule after a nuclear war. They then published this information in a pamphlet.
Israel Leaks
- Mordechai Vanunu: In 1986, an Israeli nuclear technician named Mordechai Vanunu shared details about Israel's nuclear weapons program with the British press.
- Anat Kamm: In 2008, Anat Kamm leaked secret documents from the Israeli Defense Force. These documents suggested that the Israeli military had been involved in some controversial actions.
Spain Leaks
- Spanish Coup of 1936: During a military coup attempt in Spain in July 1936, the plan to take over the Spanish Navy failed. This was mainly because the messages calling for the coup were not sent in secret code. A Navy radio operator named Benjamin Balboa took credit for leaking this news.
China Leaks
- COVID-19 Meeting Minutes: In December 2022, notes from a meeting of China's National Health Commission were leaked online. They suggested that a huge number of people in China might have caught COVID-19 in a short period.
- China Cables: In 2019, secret documents were published that showed how China was running camps and using technology to control people.
- Document Number Nine: This was a secret document shared within the Chinese Communist Party in 2013. It warned about seven "dangerous Western values," including ideas like media freedom and independent courts.
See also
- Internet leak
- GlobaLeaks (software)
