After watching the TED.com interview with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and learning more about the First Amendment and access to information: What do you think of actions by WikiLeaks?
I personally think the actions by Wikileaks are a good thing. I feel it is very useful to people and we all should really know what is not being told. Is it irresponsible? No, I feel it was irresponsible to lie and hide things from the public eye that affects many people. Knowing how corrupt agencies, businesses, governments and people are is something that should be shared. What is really happening in our world should not be hidden from the public. It can make a big difference in changing things for the better. For instance, if you know children are being forced to labor to make something you purchase, and it is something hidden from the public, that is something that when out can change the fact. It can help get the company to change their ethics and how they produce their product, or it could eliminate many buyers from buying the product altogether. That can be a positive thing for the children being used as laborers in bad conditions.
How do you feel about the current state of free speech, access to information/internet or freedom of expression/creativity?
I really have no opinion on the current state of free speech. I feel it is very defined in different ways that it can be turned in a good or bad way. I really do not believe we the people actually have the right to "freedom of speech." There is still much debate over what constitutes as freedom of speech. For example, why is Wikileaks so set upon by the government and many other agencies due to releasing what should be considered, "Freedom of Speech"?