Benefits

Despite all the legal, ethical, and social controversies that seem associated with WikiLeaks, the benefits the website has provided are often over-looked. One key positive aspect of WikiLeaks’ released material is that it’s valuable to public understanding. Another pro is that it has revealed marked flaws in the U.S.’s security. The governing body should concentrate on not allowing leaks in the first place. When “2.5 million U.S. government workers had access to the documents” that caused such uproar in November 2010 (when WikiLeaks released the cables), people began questioning how many government employees actually need such high government clearance (Bigwood, 2011, p.11). Lastly, a huge benefit is the readers of the content find it fulfilling when government representatives’ official statements coincide with their true motives and actions. For example, when leaks surfaced and provided verification of Iranian and Hezbollah support of Shiite armed forces in Iraq, including their kidnappings of American soldiers, as the Bush administration had stated but many critics doubted, people were very pleased (Crovite, 2010). All these positives help improve the government and its citizens but more importantly, the relationship between them.