[WikiEN-l] Classified information in Wikipedia

Fri Apr 1 12:55:28 UTC 2005

I think we are. I take great relish in publishing details of "classified"
skulldugery done by Alpha Group or CIA operatives or details from internal
Chinese documents but I think classified weapons information should not be
published by any responsible person. The reason for this is the harm which
can result. As to the legal issue, I am somewhat uncertain. I am certain we
don't want to find out, both because of the expense and possible penalties.

For example, while I see no problem with extensive material regarding
Israel's successful effort to develop nuclear weapons, I would oppose
publishing the precise details regarding a specific weapon. While we are far
from the jurisdiction of Israel, some things are just wrong and dumb.

Fred

> From: Robert Merkel <robert.merkel at benambra.org>
> Reply-To: English Wikipedia <wikien-l at Wikipedia.org>
> Date: Fri, 1 Apr 2005 18:02:19 +1000
> To: wikien-l at wikipedia.org
> Subject: [WikiEN-l] Classified information in Wikipedia
> 
> Hi guys, 
> 
> Here's a hypothetical for you.  Say somebody posts a piece of
> information about, say, an American-designed weapon, to the Wikipedia.
> A piece of information that the US government would prefer to be kept
> secret and thus is classified.  Now, the person that originally leaked
> the information could certainly be punished under US law, but is the
> Wikipedia under any *legal* obligation to delete the information,
> assuming it's relevant?
> 
> -- 
> 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--> -
> 
> Robert Merkel
> robert.merkel at benambra.org
> http://benambra.org
> 
> The only time an aircraft has too much fuel on board is when it is on fire.
> -- Sir Charles Kingsford Smith
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> WikiEN-l mailing list
> WikiEN-l at Wikipedia.org
> http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikien-l