Wikileaks

The notorious whistleblowing website Wikileaks launched in January 2007. Since then it has become a controversial presence on the web. Its founder Julian Assange has been criticised by the US military for leaking documents and videos about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while recent reports of civil war at the website suggest that Assange may be losing control. 

WHAT IT DOES


Wikileaks works as a digital irritant to those who may wish to keep certain facts quiet. It has thus far allowed anonymous web users to take on the former Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi, the US military, the Church of Scientology and thespian tax avoider Wesley Snipes. It has published an operations manual from Guantánamo Bay, emails from within Hugo Chavez's government and a list of websites allegedly banned by the Australian government.

AWARD WINNING

In June 2009 Wikileaks won the Amnesty media award for its exposure of alleged murdered by police in Kenya, which led to a UN investigation.

However, it won't win any awards for web design. The site doesn't highlight any of its information or stories, beyond a flat list on the homepage. You've just got to search the site. But the fact that you have to dig around to see what's there is apt, given that Wikileaks is helping to revive the lost art of investigative journalism and calling the powerful to account. 

3 November 2010