WikiLeaks and press freedom in the digital age [Video]

In the wake of Julian Assange’s release, the debate has heated up over national security versus the public’s right to know the truth, writes Vince Hooper.

JULIAN ASSANGE, the founder of WikiLeaks, has been released after a plea bargain, a development that has sent ripples through global political and journalistic communities.

The deal, which commuted his potential 175-year sentence to time served plus a brief period of supervised release, was met with both jubilation and apprehension. This outcome reignites critical debates about press freedom, state security and the role of whistleblowers in contemporary society.

Assange’s release marks the end of a protracted legal battle that began in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a vast trove of classified U.S. military documents and diplomatic cables. These revelations exposed numerous instances of misconduct and potential war crimes, sparking global outrage and elevating Assange to a controversial figurehead for transparency and free speech.

While many see Assange …