A document leak happens when confidential information is disclosed to unauthorized individuals and organisations. Whether intentional or not, the consequences of document leaks can be catastrophic. A structured, measured response can limit the impact and mitigate risks.
In the US, the term ‘document leak’ typically refers to a disclosure of classified information by an individual or organisation to a journalist or media outlet. Often, the information is released via a proxy, such as WikiLeaks or The Guardian. The leaking individual may face significant criminal or civil penalties, and their security clearances may be revoked or suspended.
Some people who have access to sensitive or confidential information, often referred to as whistleblowers, deliberately make the information public for ethical and moral reasons, such as protecting their colleagues or the public. However, people may also be tempted to disclose information to advance their careers or gain financial advantages.
The documents that have been leaked are significant, revealing the extent to which the US has penetrated Russia’s decision-making circles. They suggest that Ukrainian casualties have been underestimated and that Kyiv has been using its limited supplies of ammunition at an exhausting rate, potentially jeopardising its ability to withstand Russian air strikes in the conflict’s second year.
A number of high profile cases of document leaks have been made public in recent years. In 2013, Edward Snowden leaked a tranche of classified documents to The Guardian and The Washington Post, which showed that the National Security Agency had been illegally collecting data on US citizens’ phone calls. Those documents are among the largest and most controversial leaks in US history. Other examples include Mordechai Vanunu’s revelations about Israel’s nuclear programme to the press in 1986 and columnist Robert Novak’s exposure of CIA agent Valerie Plame to The New York Times in 2003.
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