Wikileaks Just Released A Massive 'Insurance' File That No One Can Open

[BlueStreak]

113. I'm not sure it is as complicated as this thread implies

They are simply taking precautions against the possibility that some government (or extra-governmental power acting outside normal government authority) could impound the data WikiLeaks has. If the data is replicated thousands of times, then it becomes impossible for the CIA or anybody else to go after the source.

Let us assume that bundle includes some information that the authoritarians really, really don't want exposed. This chess move leaves the CIA only two real options:

1) Try to "off" the person or persons who have the key;

2) Cut a deal with the holders of the key so as to prevent at least part of the data from being released.

And WikiLeaks can forestall option 1) by having a network of trusted individuals who have that key. Each of those individuals has instructions to release the key to the public if anything bad happens to any member of the circle. If they want to get really clever, they can give only part of the key to each individual, to reduce the chance that somebody could go rogue and release the key on his own.

They have created a "Mexican standoff" it would seem. If their file has really powerful information, then the CIA will have to cut a deal.

Doing this in such a public fashion really is a power move -- real balls -- on the part of WikiLeaks. It gives this a real feeling of an impending blowup.