The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Julian Assange

  • Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange’s bittersweet win for journalism

    Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange’s bittersweet win for journalism

    • His epic struggle for truth, transparency

    Julian Assange’s story reads like a Western narrative driven by a conflict of will and adversarial ethics. It mirrors the classic rebel’s relentless pursuit of truth that is unbearable.

    Yet, truth is relative. Atop the brimstone mantle of its depths, and beneath the swamp of its cypress roots lies a hidden world—a cosmos where truth is a currency, and its seekers, unfurl as hounded and unsung heroes. Assange stands as a modern-day explorer of these depths.

    His journey from the sanctum of the Ecuadorian Embassy to the harsh confines of a London prison, mirrors the plight of the stricken heroes of the global hound. Come what may, they leach the whole truth, diving upstream and downstream, against the currents of unforgiving nemesis.

    Truth could be perplexing. Inside the pouched, hard hide of its riddled depths, Assange lunged and fluttered like a determined frogman, eagerly bearing pearl and light from the abyss, into the dismal, tight tenements of Western democracy. His mission was clear: to illuminate the darkest corners of government secrecy and expose the mechanisms of power.

    His controversial arrest, detention, and trial were not just personal tribulations but a profound commentary on the state of freedom of expression in the modern world.

    This is why his story isn’t just about the intricacies of his tumultuous journey, but a jarring expose of the threads of political intrigues, judicial overreach, and indomitable spirit of a man who dared to challenge the most formidable powers.

    The Man Behind the Curtain: Who is Julian Assange?

    Julian Assange, born in Townsville, Australia, in 1971, developed an interest in computers from a young age and gained a reputation as a sophisticated programmer in his teens. His arrest in 1995 for hacking marked the beginning of a complex relationship with the law, but it was his creation of WikiLeaks that would catapult him to international notoriety. Assange’s commitment to exposing government malfeasance and bringing hidden truths to light has been both his greatest achievement and the source of his deepest troubles.

    He emerged from relative obscurity to global notoriety in 2010 when WikiLeaks released a trove of classified U.S. military documents and diplomatic cables. These revelations, including the infamous “Collateral Murder” video, which depicted U.S. military forces killing civilians in Iraq, catapulted Assange into the international spotlight. For some, he was a hero exposing government malfeasance; for others, a reckless agitator endangering lives and national security.

    A platform for whistleblowers to anonymously send primary-source documents to a media outlet, WikiLeaks was the first of its kind. Today, a version of it exists in the toolkits of every news organisation around the world. Unsurprisingly, back then, WikiLeaks made enemies among governments and corporations whose secrets it had exploded. The highpoint of its conflict with powerful bodies was sparked after Chelsea Manning, a youthful US Army private, horrified by the death and violence she was witnessing in the wars she’d been dispatched to in the Middle East, downloaded thousands of US government files and gave them to WikiLeaks, whose operators believed they proved crimes and other violations of power should be publicly aired and their contents made known.

    When WikiLeaks partnered with a number of different journalistic organisations to release stories based on Manning’s leaks between 2010 and 2011, these media partners – including many of the large mainstream news outlets – were initially entirely dependent on WikiLeaks. Eventually, they departed as cheerleaders to become its enemies.

    Perhaps because of the failures of the mainstream media during the war in Iraq – when much of the US news media unquestioningly reported an administration bent on making a case for war to the American people – WikiLeaks became well-known.

    The contrary ethic of WikiLeaks saw journalism as a lever for power, dedicated to ‘catalysing change through the statement of fact’, as Assange said. ‘If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth,’ a rallying cry from I.F. Stone, the cultish Cold War radical journalist from whom Assange drew his inspiration. Assange subordinated his interests to those of the state in precisely the way that makes a freelance journalist suspicious. Unlike traditional publishers and editors, he did not profit from his stolen goods or collude in the intelligence establishment. He was far too radical.

    When WikiLeaks continued exposing US secrets, the US government fought back ferociously. Manning was arrested, tortured into confessing to improbably vast crimes, and given a historically extreme prison sentence, which she is now serving at the military’s ADMAX supermax facility in Florence, Colorado, one of the most restrictive penitentiaries in the US system. Afraid that he would be next, Assange sought and received asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy, in London, where he lived for seven years.

    The Pursuit: From Asylum to Arrest

    Assange’s journey from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he sought asylum for nearly seven years, and sought to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex assault charges, to his dramatic arrest in April 2019 by the British police, following Ecuador’s withdrawal of asylum was a pivotal moment in the saga of his relentless pursuit.

    Until his arrest, his Ecuadorian sanctuary became his prison, a place where he fathered two children and married his partner, Stella Moris. The US government’s relentless pursuit of Assange under the Espionage Act for the publication of classified documents was unprecedented, targeting a publisher in a way never seen before. Under successive administrations, the United States pursued him with a tenacity that underscored the high stakes of his revelations. Charged with multiple counts under the Espionage Act, the charges against Assange were a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who dare to hold power to account.

    The Detention: His Struggle Behind Bars

    Confined in London’s Belmarsh Prison for over five years, Assange’s health deteriorated under harsh conditions typically reserved for the most dangerous criminals. The solitary confinement and limited access to medical care highlighted the punitive nature of his detention. Despite these adversities, Assange’s fight against extradition and for his freedom continued, supported by a global network of activists, journalists, and human rights organizations.

    The Trial: A Theatre of Power and Resistance

    Assange’s trial was a theatre of power, resistance, and unprecedented judicial scrutiny. The U.S. government’s arguments, centered on allegations of espionage and endangerment of lives, were met with fervent counterarguments emphasising the fundamental right to publish information of public interest. Assange’s US lawyer, Barry Pollack, described the prosecution as “unprecedented,” highlighting that the Espionage Act had never been used to pursue a publisher. Pollack asserted that Assange had revealed important and newsworthy information, including evidence of US war crimes, and had suffered tremendously in his fight for free speech and freedom of the press.

    Read Also: 2,659 jostles for NNPC foundation opportunities

    On June 24, 2024, Julian Assange left Belmarsh Prison in London and boarded a plane for Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Upon reaching the US territory the next day, he was taken to a federal courthouse. Inside, Assange pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act.

    When asked to explain his crime, Assange told the judge, “Working as a journalist I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information. I believe that the First Amendment protected that activity. I believe the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction with each other, but I accept that it would be difficult to win such a case given all these circumstances.”

    As part of the plea deal, Assange was sentenced to time served. During the sentencing, Chief US District Judge Ramona V. Manglona said, “The government has indicated there is no personal victim here. That tells me the dissemination of this information did not result in any known physical injury.” After setting the journalist free, the judge noted that the following week was Assange’s birthday, saying, “It’s apparently an early happy birthday to you.”

    His Acquittal: A Victory for Press Freedom

    Assange’s acquittal, following his plea deal, was not merely a legal victory but a resounding affirmation of the principles of press freedom. The ruling, which highlighted the overreach of the US government’s case and the lack of evidence to support the most serious charges, was a beacon of hope for journalists and whistleblowers worldwide. It underscored the essential role of a free press in a functioning democracy and the dangers of criminalising journalistic endeavors.

    Beyond the Courtroom

    The implications of Assange’s trial and acquittal extend far beyond the courtroom. They serve as a crucial reminder of the fragile nature of press freedom in an era of increasing authoritarianism and surveillance. Assange’s ordeal has galvanised a global movement advocating for greater protections for journalists and whistleblowers, reinforcing the need for robust legal frameworks that safeguard the right to inform and be informed.

    A Legacy of Courage and Defiance

    Julian Assange’s story is one of courage, defiance, and unwavering commitment to the truth. His journey, fraught with peril and sacrifice, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of modern journalism. As the dust settles on his trial, the world is left to ponder the enduring legacy of a man who stood at the precipice of power and proclaimed, unflinchingly, the right to know. His acquittal is not the end but a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for a free and just society.

    In the end, Assange’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the enduring importance of press freedom in the face of overwhelming odds.

    As the journalist who exposed US war crimes, Assange was persecuted by a US government hellbent on criminalising his journalistic work. His freedom has, however, a bitter coda: his US antagonists insisted that journalism can violate the Espionage Act. His plea agreement does not decide legal questions, but the consequences of Assange’s prosecution will no doubt chill investigative journalism.

    It capped a nearly 13-year-long farce, one that began with Assange’s final hearing in a courthouse in Saipan. There is no gainsaying Assange entered the courthouse as one of the most visible political prisoners in the world, and left a free man, who made the world’s most powerful government look small.

  • Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange’s bitter sweet win for journalism

    Wikileaks’ founder Julian Assange’s bitter sweet win for journalism

    •His epic struggle for truth, transparency

    Julian Assange‘s story reads like a Western narrative driven by a conflict of will and adversarial ethics. It mirrors the classic rebel’s relentless pursuit of truth that is unbearable.

    Yet, truth is relative. Atop the brimstone mantle of its depths, and beneath the swamp of its cypress roots lies a hidden world—a cosmos where truth is a currency, and its seekers, unfurl as hounded and unsung heroes. Assange stands as a modern-day explorer of these depths.

    His journey from the sanctum of the Ecuadorian Embassy to the harsh confines of a London prison, mirrors the plight of the stricken heroes of the global hound. Come what may, they leach the whole truth, diving upstream and downstream, against the currents of unforgiving nemesis.

    Truth could be perplexing. Inside the pouched, hard hide of its riddled depths, Assange lunged and fluttered like a determined frogman, eagerly bearing pearl and light from the abyss, into the dismal, tight tenements of Western democracy. His mission was clear: to illuminate the darkest corners of government secrecy and expose the mechanisms of power.

    Read Also: Jayriz revolutionises Nigerian Music Industry with Over You

    His controversial arrest, detention, and trial were not just personal tribulations but a profound commentary on the state of freedom of expression in the modern world.

    This is why his story isn’t just about the intricacies of his tumultuous journey, but a jarring expose of the threads of political intrigues, judicial overreach, and indomitable spirit of a man who dared to challenge the most formidable powers.

    The Man Behind the Curtain: Who is Julian Assange?

    Julian Assange, born in Townsville, Australia, in 1971, developed an interest in computers from a young age and gained a reputation as a sophisticated programmer in his teens. His arrest in 1995 for hacking marked the beginning of a complex relationship with the law, but it was his creation of WikiLeaks that would catapult him to international notoriety. Assange’s commitment to exposing government malfeasance and bringing hidden truths to light has been both his greatest achievement and the source of his deepest troubles.

    He emerged from relative obscurity to global notoriety in 2010 when WikiLeaks released a trove of classified U.S. military documents and diplomatic cables. These revelations, including the infamous “Collateral Murder” video, which depicted U.S. military forces killing civilians in Iraq, catapulted Assange into the international spotlight. For some, he was a hero exposing government malfeasance; for others, a reckless agitator endangering lives and national security.

    A platform for whistleblowers to anonymously send primary-source documents to a media outlet, WikiLeaks was the first of its kind. Today, a version of it exists in the toolkits of every news organisation around the world. Unsurprisingly, back then, WikiLeaks made enemies among governments and corporations whose secrets it had exploded. The highpoint of its conflict with powerful bodies was sparked after Chelsea Manning, a youthful US Army private, horrified by the death and violence she was witnessing in the wars she’d been dispatched to in the Middle East, downloaded thousands of US government files and gave them to WikiLeaks, whose operators believed they proved crimes and other violations of power should be publicly aired and their contents made known.

    When WikiLeaks partnered with a number of different journalistic organisations to release stories based on Manning’s leaks between 2010 and 2011, these media partners – including many of the large mainstream news outlets – were initially entirely dependent on WikiLeaks. Eventually, they departed as cheerleaders to become its enemies.

    Perhaps because of the failures of the mainstream media during the war in Iraq – when much of the US news media unquestioningly reported an administration bent on making a case for war to the American people – WikiLeaks became well-known.

    The contrary ethic of WikiLeaks saw journalism as a lever for power, dedicated to ‘catalysing change through the statement of fact’, as Assange said. ‘If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth,’ a rallying cry from I.F. Stone, the cultish Cold War radical journalist from whom Assange drew his inspiration. Assange subordinated his interests to those of the state in precisely the way that makes a freelance journalist suspicious. Unlike traditional publishers and editors, he did not profit from his stolen goods or collude in the intelligence establishment. He was far too radical.

    When WikiLeaks continued exposing US secrets, the US government fought back ferociously. Manning was arrested, tortured into confessing to improbably vast crimes, and given a historically extreme prison sentence, which she is now serving at the military’s ADMAX supermax facility in Florence, Colorado, one of the most restrictive penitentiaries in the US system. Afraid that he would be next, Assange sought and received asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy, in London, where he lived for seven years.

    The Pursuit: From Asylum to Arrest

    Assange’s journey from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, where he sought asylum for nearly seven years, and sought to avoid extradition to Sweden on sex assault charges, to his dramatic arrest in April 2019 by the British police, following Ecuador’s withdrawal of asylum was a pivotal moment in the saga of his relentless pursuit.

    Until his arrest, his Ecuadorian sanctuary became his prison, a place where he fathered two children and married his partner, Stella Moris. The US government’s relentless pursuit of Assange under the Espionage Act for the publication of classified documents was unprecedented, targeting a publisher in a way never seen before. Under successive administrations, the United States pursued him with a tenacity that underscored the high stakes of his revelations. Charged with multiple counts under the Espionage Act, the charges against Assange were a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who dare to hold power to account.

    The Detention: His Struggle Behind Bars

    Confined in London’s Belmarsh Prison for over five years, Assange’s health deteriorated under harsh conditions typically reserved for the most dangerous criminals. The solitary confinement and limited access to medical care highlighted the punitive nature of his detention. Despite these adversities, Assange’s fight against extradition and for his freedom continued, supported by a global network of activists, journalists, and human rights organizations.

    The Trial: A Theatre of Power and Resistance

    Assange’s trial was a theatre of power, resistance, and unprecedented judicial scrutiny. The U.S. government’s arguments, centered on allegations of espionage and endangerment of lives, were met with fervent counterarguments emphasising the fundamental right to publish information of public interest. Assange’s US lawyer, Barry Pollack, described the prosecution as “unprecedented,” highlighting that the Espionage Act had never been used to pursue a publisher. Pollack asserted that Assange had revealed important and newsworthy information, including evidence of US war crimes, and had suffered tremendously in his fight for free speech and freedom of the press.

    On June 24, 2024, Julian Assange left Belmarsh Prison in London and boarded a plane for Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Upon reaching the US territory the next day, he was taken to a federal courthouse. Inside, Assange pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Espionage Act.

    When asked to explain his crime, Assange told the judge, “Working as a journalist I encouraged my source to provide information that was said to be classified in order to publish that information. I believe that the First Amendment protected that activity. I believe the First Amendment and the Espionage Act are in contradiction with each other, but I accept that it would be difficult to win such a case given all these circumstances.”

    As part of the plea deal, Assange was sentenced to time served. During the sentencing, Chief US District Judge Ramona V. Manglona said, “The government has indicated there is no personal victim here. That tells me the dissemination of this information did not result in any known physical injury.” After setting the journalist free, the judge noted that the following week was Assange’s birthday, saying, “It’s apparently an early happy birthday to you.”

    His Acquittal: A Victory for Press Freedom

    Assange’s acquittal, following his plea deal, was not merely a legal victory but a resounding affirmation of the principles of press freedom. The ruling, which highlighted the overreach of the US government’s case and the lack of evidence to support the most serious charges, was a beacon of hope for journalists and whistleblowers worldwide. It underscored the essential role of a free press in a functioning democracy and the dangers of criminalising journalistic endeavors.

    Beyond the Courtroom

    The implications of Assange’s trial and acquittal extend far beyond the courtroom. They serve as a crucial reminder of the fragile nature of press freedom in an era of increasing authoritarianism and surveillance. Assange’s ordeal has galvanised a global movement advocating for greater protections for journalists and whistleblowers, reinforcing the need for robust legal frameworks that safeguard the right to inform and be informed.

    A Legacy of Courage and Defiance

    Julian Assange’s story is one of courage, defiance, and unwavering commitment to the truth. His journey, fraught with peril and sacrifice, has left an indelible mark on the landscape of modern journalism. As the dust settles on his trial, the world is left to ponder the enduring legacy of a man who stood at the precipice of power and proclaimed, unflinchingly, the right to know. His acquittal is not the end but a new chapter in the ongoing struggle for a free and just society.

    In the end, Assange’s story is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the enduring importance of press freedom in the face of overwhelming odds.

    As the journalist who exposed US war crimes, Assange was persecuted by a US government hellbent on criminalising his journalistic work. His freedom has, however, a bitter coda: his US antagonists insisted that journalism can violate the Espionage Act. His plea agreement does not decide legal questions, but the consequences of Assange’s prosecution will no doubt chill investigative journalism.

    It capped a nearly 13-year-long farce, one that began with Assange’s final hearing in a courthouse in Saipan. There is no gainsaying Assange entered the courthouse as one of the most visible political prisoners in the world, and left a free man, who made the world’s most powerful government look small.

  • Julian Assange sentenced to 50 weeks for skipping bail

    Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, who spent almost seven years inside the Ecuadorian embassy in the UK before his arrest last month, has been sentenced to 50 weeks in prison for breaching his 2012 bail conditions.

    The Australian national was given refuge at the residence in 2012 while on bail in the UK over charges of sexual assault and rape in Sweden, which he denies.

    But on April 11, Assange was arrested after the Ecuadorian government withdrew his asylum claim.

    Assange was found guilty of breaching the bail act last month and was sentenced today.

    The 50-weeks handed down by judge Deborah Taylor was just short of the maximum one-year sentence.

    Assange told the court he had been “struggling with difficult circumstances,” and apologised to those who “consider I’ve disrespected them.”

    Read Also: Sexual assault: Court grants teacher N500,000 bail

    “I did what I thought at the time was the best or perhaps the only thing that I could have done,” he said.

    His lawyer added that Assange was forced to take action as he feared “kidnap and torture” by the US.

    Because of his work on WikiLeaks, Assange was said to be “gripped” by fears of rendition to America.

    Judge Taylor told Assange that “by hiding in the embassy you deliberately put yourself out of reach, while remaining in the UK.”

    “You exploited your privileged position to flout the law and advertised internationally your disdain for the law of this country,” she added, noting the policing resources outside of the embassy during the time he was there cost the taxpayer £16 million.

    Assange will face a hearing on Thursday related to his potential extradition to the US over allegations that he conspired with former US intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to download classified databases.

    If found guilty, he could be sentenced to five years in prison.

     

  • British police arrest Assange after 7 years in Ecuador embassy

    WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, on Thursday was arrested by British police and carried out of the Ecuadorean embassy after his South American hosts abruptly revoked his seven-year asylum.

    This had paved the way for his possible extradition to the U.S.

    An agitated, frail-looking Assange with white hair and a white beard was carried out of the embassy by at least seven men to a waiting police van.

    “Assange, 47, has today, Thursday 11 April, been arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) at the Embassy of Ecuador,” British police said.

    Police said they arrested Assange after being invited into the embassy following the Ecuadorean government’s withdrawal of asylum.

    Police later added that Assange had been arrested a second time after an extradition request from the U.S.

    The arrests, after nearly seven years holed up in a few cramped rooms at the embassy, mark one of the most peculiar turns in a tumultuous life that has transformed the Australian programmer into a rebel wanted by the U.S.

    Assange’s supporters said Ecuador had betrayed him at the behest of Washington, that the termination of his asylum was illegal and that they feared he would ultimately end up on trial in the U.S.

    To some, Assange is a hero for exposing what supporters cast as abuse of power by modern states and for championing free speech.

    But to others, he is a dangerous rebel, who has undermined U.S. security.

    WikiLeaks angered Washington by publishing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. diplomatic cables that laid bare often highly critical U.S. appraisals of world leaders from Russian President Vladimir Putin to members of the Saudi royal family.

    Assange made international headlines in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified U.S. military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters in Baghdad that killed a dozen people, including two Reuters news staff.

    It was not immediately clear what specifically prompted Ecuador to end Assange’s stay in the embassy, or the extent of the diplomacy that led to the arrest. The Kremlin said it hoped his rights would not be violated.

    Assange in June 2012 took refuge in Ecuador’s London embassy, behind the luxury department store Harrods, to avoid being extradited to Sweden, where authorities wanted to question him as part of a sexual assault investigation.

    Sweden dropped that investigation in 2017 but Assange was arrested on Thursday for breaking the rules of his original bail in London.

    Friends of Assange said the solitude he had experienced in the embassy had hurt him most.

    “It was a miserable existence and I could see it was a strain on him, but a strain he managed rather well,” said Vaughan Smith, a friend who visited Assange.

    “The thing that was most difficult for Julian was the solitude.

    “He was very tough, but in 2018 in particular was very difficult. He was constantly being surveilled and spied upon. There was no privacy for him.”

    WikiLeaks said Ecuador had illegally terminated his political asylum in violation of international law.

    Assange’s relationship with his hosts collapsed after Ecuador accused him of leaking information about President Lenin Moreno’s personal life.

    Moreno said Assange’s diplomatic asylum status had been canceled for repeated violation of conventions.

    He said he had asked Britain to guarantee that Assange would not be extradited to any country where he might face torture or the death penalty.

    “The British government has confirmed it in writing,” Moreno said.

    “The asylum of Mr Assange is unsustainable and no longer viable.”

    The United States has always been reticent about the legal case against Assange, and there were no immediate details on what charges the U.S. extradition request related to.

    Due to a clerical error, a document filed by federal prosecutors in Virginia in an unrelated 2018 investigation revealed that Assange had secretly been indicted by U.S. authorities.

    Prosecutors have acknowledged the authenticity of the document but have refused to confirm or deny that Assange has been criminally charged under U.S. federal law.

  • BREAKING: Police arrest WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange

    Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

    Assange has been living at the embassy in London’s plush Knightsbridge district since 2012 when he sought refuge there after being accused of sexual assault in Sweden.

    Assange was initially detained for “failing to surrender to the court” over a warrant issued in 2012 and was in custody at a central London police station, Metropolitan Police said.
    He will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London as soon as is possible, police added.
    Mr Assange set up Wikileaks in 2006 with the aim of obtaining and publishing confidential documents and images. The organisation hit the headlines four years later when it released footage of US soldiers killing civilians from a helicopter in Iraq.
  • UK police threaten to arrest Assange if he leaves Ecuador embassy

    UK police threaten to arrest Assange if he leaves Ecuador embassy

    British police on Friday threatened to arrest WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he leaves the Ecuadorean embassy in London after Swedish prosecutors said they would drop a preliminary investigation into an allegation of rape against him.

    Assange, 45, has been holed up in the embassy since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden over the allegation of rape, which he denies.

    “Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Julian Assange following him failing to surrender to the court on June 29, 2012,” London police said in a statement.

    “The Metropolitan Police Service is obliged to execute that warrant should he leave the Embassy.”

  • How hackers, social bots, data analysts shaped the U.S. election

    How hackers, social bots, data analysts shaped the U.S. election

    Analysts believed that information technology and data science have played prominent roles in the 2016 U.S. presidential race.

    They said on Tuesday in Los Angeles that the presidential candidates spent millions of dollars on data analysts in order to target specific voters while social bots attempt to manipulate discussions on social media.

    They added that hackers also caused further turmoil by leaking emails.

    “With our lives becoming more digitised, data analysts had become an increasingly important tool in U.S. political campaigns to reach out to voters.

    A report on Statistics Views noted that the Democratic Party has embraced data science early on.

    It said since the 2008 presidential election, the Democratic National Committee began gathering data sets of voters, which included information about “which magazines they subscribe to, whether they like to vote early, and how likely they are to open certain emails.

    You might also like: Who becomes America’s 45th president?

    It said further that during this election, the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton hired about 60 analysts under the guidance of the statistician Elan Kriegel, Clinton’s director of analysts.

    “Kriegel was also Barack Obama’s battleground states analytics director in 2012.

    The report said data analysis tools help campaigns identify how to most effectively allocate their resources and be smart about how and when to target their voters.

    It said during the democratic primaries, Kriegel’s analyst team was “responsible for deciding where and when to place each of the 60 million dollars that Clinton invested on TV ads,” wrote the new report, by optimising the “cost per flappable delegate.

    The report attributed Clinton’s success over Bernie Sanders to the efficient use of data analysis.

    It said that by contrast, Donald Trump’s republican campaign was less open about its data operations than its rival.

    You might also like: us election visualisation of early voting results

    It said back in May, Trump told the media that he felt data analyst was “overrated,” and that he planned to win the election solely by his own personality.

    It said that Trump did not invest in data analysis during the primaries but, did start spending millions of dollars in the summer at the insistence of his close advisors.

    “Not only did the campaigns analyse massive amount of voter data, they also actively influenced people’s opinions by manipulating social media.

    Emilio Ferrara, a Research Assistant Professor at the Information Science Institute of the University of Southern California, said that many recent papers have demonstrated how people’s opinions are swayed by what they read online, and bots can contribute to that effect.

    A recent study by Ferrara and his colleague Alessandro Bessi found that nearly one-fifth of all 20 million election-related tweets they collected between mid-September and late October were from “social bots.

    Bots is an automated computer programme that are designed to pose as real people, sometimes without disclosing their true artificial identity.

    The computer scientists found that Twitter accounts identified as pro-Trump bots have mainly been tweeting positive messages, increasing the republican nominee’s popularity, while only half of pro-Clinton bots were spreading positive messages, with the other half criticising the democratic nominee.

    Another set of analysts noted that hackers added, even more turmoil into this year’s already unusual election.

    You might also like: Topless women protest at polling place where Trump was due to vote

    They said a large number of emails from John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chair, were released in batches on the WikiLeaks website, revealing embarrassing private discussions within the Clinton campaign.

    They noted that analysing some of the leaked emails, some speculate that Podesta fell into the trap of a “phishing email” back in March, which posed as Google’s account services department and directed him to a fake website to give his email password.

    They recalled that in October, the Obama administration officially accused Russia of attempting to interfere with the elections, by hacking the computers of political organisations including the Democratic National Committee.

    “The Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security in a joint statement that U.S. Intelligence Community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from U.S. persons and institutions, including from U.S. political organisations.

    The accusation was dismissed by the Kremlin.

    Julian Assange, Editor-in-Chief of WikiLeaks, also denied that the Russian government or any other “state parties” could have been the source of the Podesta emails.

    Last summer, in an interview with Bloomberg, Kim Dotcom, the New Zealand-based founder of MegaUpload, said that Julian Assange would be Hillary Clinton’s “worst nightmare” in 2016.

    “I know where Hillary Clinton’s deleted emails are and how to get them legally,” the German millionaire tweeted on Oct. 27, adding they “are all stored in the NSA (National Security Agency) spy cloud in Utah.”

  • UN panel ‘rules in Wikileaks founder’s favour

    UN panel ‘rules in Wikileaks founder’s favour

    A United Nations panel considering the alleged “unlawful detention” of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange, has ruled in his favour.

    He took refuge in London’s Ecuadorian embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault claims, the BBC reports.

    In 2014 he complained to the panel he was being “arbitrarily detained” as he could not leave without being arrested.

    A warrant for his arrest remains in place and United Kingdom police said he will be arrested if he does leave the embassy.

    The UN’s Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is due to announce the findings of its investigation into Mr. Assange’s case on Friday.

    Its panel of legal experts, which has taken evidence from the UK and Sweden, has made previous rulings on whether imprisonment or detention is lawful.

    It does not have any formal influence over the British and Swedish authorities and the UK Foreign Office said it still had an obligation to extradite Mr. Assange.