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WikiLeaks, Anarchism and Technologies of Dissent

BASS – Jan 12, 2013 Morgan Gibson. WikiLeaks, Anarchism and Technologies of Dissent. Argument. WikiLeaks charged with ‘anarchism’ for its document-leaking activities But just how substantial is its anarchism ?

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WikiLeaks, Anarchism and Technologies of Dissent

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  1. BASS – Jan 12, 2013 Morgan Gibson WikiLeaks, Anarchism and Technologies of Dissent

  2. Argument • WikiLeaks charged with ‘anarchism’ for its document-leaking activities • But just how substantial is its anarchism? • Argument: Not strictly anarchist, bur rather principles and aims are ‘anarchical’ • Two key components of the telling of the WikiLeaks story through an anarchist prism: (1) the anarchical elements of the computer-mediated technologies that are utilised, particularly the Internet, and (2) the anarchical ethos of the organisation’s politics

  3. Overview 1. Technology and Dissent • The story of an ‘anarchical’ Internet 2.The WikiLeaks Story • Situate the organisation historically • Explore the (anarchist) principles behind WL formation 3. WikiLeaks and Anarchism • Critique of WL more recent practices from an anarchist perspective

  4. Technology and Dissent • Not all anarchists affirm the emancipatory potentialities of technology! • ‘Primitivists’ vis-à-vis those more willing to embrace (certain) ‘libertarian’ technologies • Anarchical character of the Internet • ‘Hacker’ culture central to defence and expansion of anarchical elements of the Internet • Internet’s eventual commodification illustrates important limits of technology in context of capitalist social relations

  5. The WikiLeaks Story • WikiLeaks as liberal reformism • WikiLeaks ‘anarchism’ motivated by two key concepts: • Transparency Activism • Conspiratorial Government • Anarchy, Hackers and Cypherpunks • WikiLeaks influenced by more ‘anarchic’ elements of ‘Hacktivist’ culture and by the Internet’s emancipatory potentialities

  6. WikiLeaks and Anarchism • WikiLeaks’ internal hierarchies, centred around Assangeand failure to ‘prefigure’ an emancipated society in its praxis problematic • Critics charge – including anarchists – the WL has come to reproduce the hierarchies of the order it ostensibly wants to replace • Particularly evident in centralisation under Assange

  7. Conclusion • WL built on the ‘libertarian’ ethos of the Internet; that information should be free for all. • Inspired by ‘anarchical’ hacktivist culture and attempts to utilise anarchic infrastructure of the Internet for the purposes of leaking • WL sees leaking as a ‘weapon’ against the existing social order • ‘Transparency activism’ important in undermining ‘conspiratorial government’; undermine the capacity of hierarchical organisations to maintain themselves • However, criticisms of internal hierarchies – and a failure to ‘prefigure’ existing social arrangements’ - persist

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