“All mega-leaks differ in their causes and details, but they always have two effects,” argues RidT. “They do damage, sometimes catastrophically so. However, they also offer an opportunity to advance the conversation about intelligence”
past dozen or so years, America’s government and its intelligence apparatus has suffered five mega-leaks: the release of diplomatic cables by WikiLeaks in 2010; the disclosures by Edward Snowden in 2013; the publication of National Security Agency andhacking tools in 2016 and 2017; and, now, the appearance of large amounts of intelligence reports on Discord, a messaging platform.
Assessing the damage caused by a big leak is hard, and doing so in a matter of days without access to inside information is especially so. Yet it is probably safe to assume that the Discord leaks are very bad. The disclosures will be damaging to capabilities, to technical access and human sources, and to allied relationships, as South Korea’s insulted reaction illustrated this week. The leak will also be harmful on the battlefield, as some Ukrainian weaknesses are now exposed.
Nevertheless, once the spillage has happened—and it will almost certainly happen again—intelligence agencies should immediately shift gears: first minimise damage, then maximise utility.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
America arrests the suspect behind mass intelligence leaksThe man who apparently uploaded hundreds of classified files over recent months to Discord, a messaging platform, appears to have done so to show off to friends on the internet
Read more »
Jack Teixeira: Who is the 21-year-old national guardsman suspected of US intelligence leaks?Held 'in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorised removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defence information' - the airman faces being charged under the Espionage Act and could be handed a lengthy jail sentence if convicted.
Read more »
Pentagon leaks: A who's who of US intelligence leakers behind high-profile past security breachesThe cases of Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange and Edward Snowden are again under scrutiny after the latest disclosure of classified documents, which has led to the arrest of 21-year-old national guardsman Jack Teixeira.
Read more »
File-sharing: America’s huge intelligence leakA trove of once-secret documents is proving an embarrassment to both America and its allies, and a danger to Ukraine’s planned counter-offensive. The tech industry is shedding workers at a striking pace; we ask where all those laid-off experts are going. And more evidence that suggests pet ownership reduces childhood allergies. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Read more »
File-sharing: America’s huge intelligence leakA trove of once-secret documents is proving an embarrassment to both America and its allies, and a danger to Ukraine’s planned counter-offensive. The tech industry is shedding workers at a striking pace; we ask where all those laid-off experts are going. And more evidence that suggests pet ownership reduces childhood allergies. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, try a free 30-day digital subscription by going to www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Read more »
Russian intelligence trying to 'penetrate gaming communities', Microsoft exec saysMicrosoft president Brad Smith has said The Wagner Group and Russian intelligence are trying to 'penetrate gaming communities'.
Read more »