WikiLeaks, Assange feel the heat (roundup)

Whistle-blower site continues to face heavy criticism and repercussions for publishing extensive details of U.S. military and diplomatic activity. Controversial editor Julian Assange, meanwhile, confronts his own challenges in court.

Assange can be extradited to Sweden

U.K. judge approves extradition of WikiLeaks founder to Sweden to face questioning over sexual assault and rape allegations. Assange has a week to appeal.
• Witness: Assange's version of events needed to be heard
• Assange extradition hearing kicks off in London
(Posted in Politics and Law by Tom Espiner)
February 24, 2011 3:38 AM PT

WikiLeaks hearing set in dispute over Twitter data

Judge sets hearing on whether Justice Department can obtain records about Twitter accounts of WikiLeaks volunteers.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
February 8, 2011 6:16 PM PST

WikiLeaks founder Assange talks to '60 Minutes'

Julian Assange discusses his relationship with sources, WikiLeaks' vulnerability to government shut down, and rumors of an upcoming document dump.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Edward Moyer)
January 30, 2011 5:24 PM PST

Anonymous: U.K. arrests are 'declaration of war'

The group, which supports the whistle-blowing site WikiLeaks, warns the U.K. government that arresting five men was a "sad mistake on your behalf."
(Posted in Politics and Law by Tom Espiner)
January 28, 2011 9:15 AM PST

FBI issues warrants over pro-WikiLeaks attacks

More than 40 search warrants have been issued across the U.S. as part of an FBI investigation into the source of the recent cyberattacks orchestrated by pro-WikiLeaks activists.
(Posted in Security by Lance Whitney)
January 28, 2011 8:41 AM PST

U.K. police nab 5 Anonymous DDoS suspects

Five men, aged 15 to 26, are taken into custody in England in connection with a probe into Web attacks on companies seen as hindering the activities of WikiLeaks.
(Posted in Digital Media by Tom Espiner)
January 27, 2011 7:48 AM PST

European politicos protest DOJ WikiLeaks-Twitter probe

Flap caused by U.S. Justice Department's demand for WikiLeaks-related Twitter account data spreads to the EU, but U.S. State Department defends move as "appropriate and necessary."
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
January 11, 2011 11:53 PM PST

Assange hearing set; WikiLeaks vows more cables

An extradition hearing for WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange is set for early February. Also, Assange's lawyer plans to publish online the legal arguments against Sweden's request.
(Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)
January 11, 2011 4:20 AM PST

WikiLeaks volunteer hires lawyers in Twitter fight

CNET has learned that the Electronic Frontier Foundation will represent member of Icelandic parliament who volunteered with WikiLeaks and is target of a U.S. Justice Department probe.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
January 11, 2011 12:07 AM PST

DOJ sends order to Twitter for WikiLeaks-related account info

Virginia judge tells Twitter to cough up info on accounts including Icelandic politician and Tor programmer, who have 10 days to fight request that arose as part of WikiLeaks criminal probe.
• Report: FBI seizes server in probe of WikiLeaks attacks
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
January 7, 2011 7:56 PM PST

Coverage from Fall 2010

Assange penning autobiography to pay legal bills

The public face of WikiLeaks will use the proceeds from a book about his life to bolster his legal defense fund and keep his whistleblower site afloat.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Lance Whitney)
December 27, 2010 6:38 AM PT

Sweden's case against WikiLeaks' Julian Assange

In an interview with CNET, the Swedish attorney for two women who accuse Julian Assange of sexual misconduct lays out the case against WikiLeaks editor.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Mats Lewan)
December 21, 2010 4:00 AM PT

WikiLeaks app yanked from Apple's App Store

A newly released app displaying feeds from the controversial whistleblower site has been removed by Apple from the App Store, according to the developer.
(Posted in Apple by Lance Whitney)
December 21, 2010 6:40 AM PT

Bank of America cuts off WikiLeaks

Announcement comes as the embattled document-sharing site is reportedly readying a release that targets the banking giant.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Steven Musil)
December 18, 2010 8:24 AM PT

Assange legal case could hang on contradiction

Julian Assange denies knowing Bradley Manning, but earlier chat logs appear to show the Army private had a source "relationship" with WikiLeaks editor.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
December 17, 2010 1:55 PM PT

WikiLeaks.info rebuts malware warnings

Spamhaus and Trend Micro regard a Web site that lists mirrors of WikiLeaks sites as dangerous to visit, but WikiLeaks.info contends that its site has no malware.
(Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)
December 15, 2010 5:04 AM PT

Julian Assange leaves London jail on bail

WikiLeaks' now-famous spokesman emerges from Wandsworth Prison and tells crowd of journalists and supporters that he hopes to "continue" his work.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
• WikiLeaks' Assange granted bail in London
December 16, 2010 1:01 PM PT

WikiLeaks editor faces grand jury indictment?

Attorney for WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange says a grand jury in Alexandria, Va., is currently weighing criminal charges, probably under the Espionage Act.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
December 13, 2010 1:07 PM PT

WikiLeaks could be vulnerable to Espionage Act

If Julian Assange is indicted by the U.S. government for disseminating classified information, he'll have a difficult time fending off the vague but menacing Espionage Act.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
December 13, 2010 4:00 AM PT

Study: Anonymous hacktivists not very anonymous

Research from the University of Twente suggests that many of the members of Anonymous, the hacktivists who attacked PayPal and other sites that have constrained WikiLeaks' activities, are easily identifiable.
(Posted in Technically Incorrect by Chris Matyszczyk)
December 12, 2010 9:27 AM PT

WikiLeaks fans should think before they botnet

Joining the Operation Payback digital protest, which has been launching denial-of-service attacks against target sites to make its point, is illegal, lawyer says.
(Posted in InSecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)
December 10, 2010 3:01 PM PT

Anonymous explains self amid WikiLeaks drama

A group that supports WikiLeaks through attacks on Web sites of organizations it deems enemies has apparently issued a press release to try to explain its motivations.
(Posted in The Digital Home by Don Reisinger)
December 10, 2010 8:19 AM PT

Report: Ex-WikiLeakers to launch new Openleaks site

Former partners of Julian Assange say their new site will not publish any documents but will work with media and others to get them out.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Elinor Mills)
December 9, 2010 4:55 PM PT

Dutch police arrest suspected pro-WikiLeaks hacker

Dutch police say they have arrested a 16-year old hacker involved in the pro-WikiLeaks attacks on the Web sites of MasterCard and PayPal, but the denial-of-service attacks continue.
• The Anonymous hackers: Are they really the Borg?
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
December 9, 2010 1:06 PM PT

Twitter: We aren't blocking WikiLeaks info

Following rumors about why #wikileaks disappeared from Twitter's trending topics list, Twitter says it was not the result of any attempt to suppress information.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)
December 9, 2010 6:44 AM PT

Feds hint at charges for WikiLeaks' Assange

The U.S. government indicates WikiLeaks spokesman Julian Assange could be in legal jeopardy for disclosing classified information because he is "not a journalist."
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
December 8, 2010 2:53 PM PT

Facebook, Twitter boot WikiLeaks supporters after Visa attack

Group that shut down MasterCard.com and PayPal forces Visa offline with a denial-of-service attack as part of its Operation Payback campaign.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Elinor Mills)
December 8, 2010 2:30 PM PT

WikiLeaks supporters attack MasterCard site

Online activists in support of WikiLeaks bring down MasterCard's Web site following the credit card company's decision to block payments to the whistle-blowing site.
• WikiLeaks payment host threatens MasterCard, Visa
(Posted in Politics and Law by Lance Whitney)
December 8, 2010 7:16 AM PT

WikiLeaks armors itself to survive cyberattacks

After denial-of-service and political attacks, WikiLeaks quietly bolsters its electronic infrastructure in a bid to become more difficult to censor.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
December 7, 2010 3:44 PM PT

WikiLeaks leader arrested after rape accusation

Julian Assange, leader of WikiLeaks, has been arrested. He's accused of sexual molestation and rape in Sweden.
• WikiLeaks' Assange denied bail
• Assange: WikiLeaks punished for revealing truth
(Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)
December 7, 2010 3:45 AM PT

Facebook: We won't block WikiLeaks, for now

The social network says that at present, WikiLeaks' Facebook fan page does not violate its terms of service and will stay afloat--though that could change.
(Posted in The Social by Caroline McCarthy)
December 6, 2010 8:59 PM PT

MasterCard pulls plug on WikiLeaks payments

MasterCard is pulling the plug on WikiLeaks a few days after PayPal did the same, drying up another source of funds, CNET has learned.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
December 6, 2010 2:37 PM PT

Feds block workers from WikiLeaks, mirror sites

Department of Energy employees at Sandia and other labs are blocked from visiting WikiLeaks and its myriad of mirror sites because it will "contaminate" their computers.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
December 6, 2010 1:59 PM PT

Online activists fighting to keep WikiLeaks alive

Activists set up mirror sites to keep WikiLeaks online while PayPal suffers a DoS attack over its decision to cut off services to controversial whistle-blower site.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Lance Whitney)
December 6, 2010 10:01 AM PT

PayPal shuts out WikiLeaks

The popular online payment service puts the kibosh on the account hitherto used in fund-raising efforts by the controversial clearinghouse for leaked documents.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Edward Moyer)
December 4, 2010 12:44 PM PT

WikiLeaks reappears on Swiss Net domain

The publisher of classified information disappeared from the Net yesterday when an address service cut the group off. It's back with new Web site hosted in Switzerland.
• Amazon cuts off WikiLeaks
• Amazon: U.S. played no role in WikiLeaks disconnect
(Posted in Deep Tech by Stephen Shankland)
December 4, 2010 3:03 AM PT

WikiLeaks faces more U.S. demands for prosecution

WikiLeaks encounters another round of criticism as heads of Senate Intelligence Committee call for espionage prosecution of Julian Assange and "possible accomplices."
• Republicans slam White House over WikiLeaks response
• AG says WikiLeaks criminal probe is 'ongoing'
• Congressman wants WikiLeaks listed as terrorist group
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
December 2, 2010 4:56 PM PT

WikiLeaks files detail U.S. electronic surveillance

Included in today's leak of more than 250,000 diplomatic cables: U.S. ordered surveillance of U.N. leaders, and China's Politburo ordered penetration of Google's network.
• WikiLeaks has U.S. scrambling to plug holes
• WikiLeaks: We are under denial-of-service attack
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
November 28, 2010 1:27 PM PT

Sweden issuing arrest warrant for WikiLeaks' Assange

Stockholm court says Julian Assange will be "detained in his absence" on rape and molestation charges, which his lawyer says are false and politically motivated.
• Sweden reopens rape probe of WikiLeaks founder
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
November 18, 2010 10:58 AM PT

Amid criticism, WikiLeaks shifts focus

WikiLeaks, which grew out of the cypherpunks list over a decade ago, has left its early days as an informal collaboration far behind.
• Reporters' Roundtable 53: Can you trust WikiLeaks? (video)
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
October 28, 2010 4:00 AM PT

Has WikiLeaks landed in cyberattack crosshairs?

Conservative commentators call for WikiLeaks' Iraq files, actually hosted on Amazon.com servers in California, to be electronically "assaulted."
• U.S. denies asking other nations to attack WikiLeaks
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
October 27, 2010 4:00 AM PT

WikiLeaks defies feds, releases Iraq war files

Despite stern warnings from U.S. military and government officials, site releases a massive trove of secret documents from the Iraq war to the media.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
October 22, 2010 3:02 PM PT

Coverage from spring and summer 2010

Ex-DOJer helped expose alleged WikiLeaks source

Mark Rasch, previously the head of the Justice Department's computer crime unit, helped to turn in alleged WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning.
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
August 9, 2010 4:00 AM PT

Defense Dept. demands that WikiLeaks return files

The U.S. Defense Department formally demands that WikiLeaks return all classified military records, and it leaves open what might happen to the group's principals, if they refuse.
• WikiLeaks' war files disclosure roils Washington
• WikiLeaks draws criticism, censorship threats
(Posted in Privacy Inc. by Declan McCullagh)
August 5, 2010 1:25 PM PT

WikiLeaks releases massive set of Afghan war files

Document-leaking group releases tens of thousands of classified files to newspapers including the U.K. Guardian, which calls it a "devastating portrait of the failing war in Afghanistan."
• WikiLeaks denies receiving classified State Dept. cables
(Posted in Security by Declan McCullagh and Steven Musil)
July 25, 2010 4:13 PM PT

WikiLeaks' estranged co-founder becomes a critic

Q&A John Young, editor of document-leaking site Cryptome.org, has switched from being one of WikiLeaks biggest fans to one of its prominent critics.
(Posted in Security by Declan McCullagh and Steven Musil)
July 20, 2010 1:40 PM PDT

Alleged WikiLeaks source charged with leaking classified files

Army intelligence analyst faces criminal charges connected to leaks of thousands of diplomatic cables and a video showing U.S. troops firing on a Reuters reporter.
(Posted in Security by Declan McCullagh)
July 6, 2010 9:11 AM PT

Hacker turns in soldier in Iraq airstrike video leak

While sympathetic, former "homeless hacker" Adrian Lamo says the Army intelligence analyst who confided in him crossed the line by exposing compromising data on U.S. foreign policy.
• Soldier leaked Google attack investigation details, hacker says
(Posted in Insecurity Complex by Elinor Mills)
June 7, 2010 5:11 PM PT

WikiLeaks releases video of Iraq journalist shooting

Anti-secrecy activists release video showing Reuters journalists being shot by Apache gunship, which may call into question the U.S. military's official account.
(Posted in Politics and Law by Declan McCullagh)
April 5, 2010 6:52 PM PT