Is this a victory for freedom of the press? A 14-year struggle between the US state and the man who revealed its secrets has come to an end. Neither side will be completely happy.
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Julian Assange free after spy charges deal
Is this a victory for freedom of the press? A 14-year struggle between the US state and the man who revealed its secrets has come to an end. Neither side will be completely happy.
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What's happening?
Yesterday the eyes of the world were on one man, Julian Assange, as he made his way home to AustraliaThe largest country in Oceania, home to only 27 million people. .
He signed a plea dealWhen someone agrees that they are guilty of a crime in order to avoid a trial and in exchange for a lower sentence. with US officials, and put to an end a 14-year drama. Under the deal, he will agree that he is guiltyResponsible for doing something wrong. of espionageSpying.. But he will not be given any more time in prison.
Assange started WikiLeaksA whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals. , an international group that publishes information it thinks the publicOrdinary people in the community or a place where everyone is allowed to go. should know about, in 2006.
It became the focus of American anger in 2010, when it published a series of files secretly passed to it by a US soldier.
The US government opened a criminal investigation over the sharing of the files. Since then Assange has been fighting against being sent to the USA from the UK.
Throughout this time, Assange and his supporters argued that he and WikiLeaks are journalistsPeople whose job it is to report on the news. , sharing the truth with the public.
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Others say that WikiLeaks broke the law and put people's lives in danger by sharing secret information.
Today, many of Assange's supporters are happy. But they are not sure whether this is really a win for press freedom. They say the US has shown that journalists can be found guilty of crimes just for doing their jobs.
Is this a victory for freedom of the press?
Yes! Assange won his long fight for freedom against one of the world's most powerful countries. It will give other people belief and hope.
No! ResponsibleOfcom, the UK communications regulator, will be able to issue fines of up to £18m or 10% of a company's global turnover. They will also have the power to block access to sites in the UK. journalists find the balance between letting the truth be known and keeping people in danger. Assange is not a journalist but rather an activistSomeone who campaigns for social or political change. .
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Keywords
Australia - The largest country in Oceania, home to only 27 million people.
Plea deal - When someone agrees that they are guilty of a crime in order to avoid a trial and in exchange for a lower sentence.
Guilty - Responsible for doing something wrong.
Espionage - Spying.
WikiLeaks - A whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals.
Public - Ordinary people in the community or a place where everyone is allowed to go.
Journalists - People whose job it is to report on the news.
Responsible - Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, will be able to issue fines of up to £18m or 10% of a company's global turnover. They will also have the power to block access to sites in the UK.
Activist - Someone who campaigns for social or political change.
Julian Assange free after spy charges deal
Locked up: Assange, pictured in 2014, spent more than 10 years first in London's Ecuadorian embassy and then in prison. Glossary
Australia - The largest country in Oceania, home to only 27 million people.
Plea deal - When someone agrees that they are guilty of a crime in order to avoid a trial and in exchange for a lower sentence.
Guilty - Responsible for doing something wrong.
Espionage - Spying.
WikiLeaks - A whistleblowing platform founded by Julian Assange. It has published news leaks and classified documents obtained by anonymous individuals.
Public - Ordinary people in the community or a place where everyone is allowed to go.
Journalists - People whose job it is to report on the news.
Responsible - Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, will be able to issue fines of up to £18m or 10% of a company’s global turnover. They will also have the power to block access to sites in the UK.
Activist - Someone who campaigns for social or political change.