Executive Summary
This thesis examines unauthorized disclosures by US national security whistleblowers and leakers from 1970 to 2017, analyzing their motivations, actions, and the consequences within the intelligence community. It explores the complex interplay between secrecy, transparency, and accountability in the context of national security.
Why It Matters
Understanding the dynamics of national security whistleblowing is crucial for assessing government transparency, intelligence oversight, and the balance between secrecy and public accountability.
Key Takeaways
- The study focuses on unauthorized disclosures by US national security personnel and contractors between 1970 and 2017.
Source evidence · PDF page 2
UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURES: US National Security Whistleblowers and Leakers, 1970-2017
- National security whistleblowers are defined by their release of information deemed 'necessarily secret' by the intelligence community.
Source evidence · PDF page 99
The category of national security whistleblowers is defined by the element of releasing information that the intelligence community purportedly considers to be ‘necessarily secret’.
- Unauthorized disclosures by whistleblowers and leakers consistently lead to severe personal consequences for the individuals involved.
Source evidence · PDF page 144
Whether or not one has any sympathy towards any of the individuals described as whistleblowers in this chapter, it is clear that for all of them the decision to make an unauthorised disclosure had drastic personal consequences.
Strategic Relevance
This research provides critical insights into the challenges of managing classified information, the motivations behind intelligence leaks, and the impact of such disclosures on national security operations and public trust. It informs policy discussions on intelligence oversight, whistleblower protection, and information security.