Exposing Crimes is Not a Crime: The WikiLeaks Legacy Symposium

A Gathering for Transparency in 2026

Dear followers of the Julian Assange Archive,

In a world where whistleblowing remains under siege and the line between journalism and criminality is increasingly blurred, the Disruption Network Lab is convening a powerful 3-day symposium in Berlin:

”Exposing Crimes is Not a Crime: The Real-World Consequences of WikiLeaks”(March 19–21, 2026)

Curated by Tatiana Bazzichelli, founder and artistic director of the Disruption Network Lab, this 37th event in their series brings together 30 speakers—whistleblowers, journalists, lawyers, activists, artists, and technologists—to reflect on WikiLeaks’ profound impact. Twenty years after its founding, WikiLeaks transformed how public information is accessed and challenged systems of power through leaks on war, surveillance, diplomacy, corporate misconduct, and more. The symposium examines why these revelations mattered, how they shifted global politics and society, and what paths forward exist for resistance and accountability.

The program unfolds over three days of panels (March 19–21 at HAU1) followed by an Activation Day (March 22 at Stadtwerkstatt) focused on future tactics and actions. Themes span:

- War & the military-industrial complex

- Government & diplomatic cables

- Intelligence & cybersurveillance

- Global economy & corporate secrets

- Art & culture as evidence and resistance

Speakers include a remarkable cross-section of voices who have lived or studied these issues firsthand. Highlights from the lineup:

- Stella Assange (Human Rights Lawyer) opens with reflections on the broader context of WikiLeaks’ work and its human cost.

- Whistleblowers like Lisa Ling (former US Air Force Drone Surveillance), John Kiriakou (former CIA officer and anti-torture advocate), Terry Albury (former FBI agent), and Thomas Drake (former NSA senior executive) offer direct insights into the systems WikiLeaks exposed.

- Journalists and editors such as Kristinn Hrafnsson (WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief), Stefania Maurizi (Il Fatto Quotidiano), Ewen MacAskill (former Guardian Defence Correspondent), John Goetz (investigative journalist), Matthew Kennard (author and investigative journalist), and Mark Curtis (Declassified UK) discuss the leaks’ journalistic legacy and ongoing implications.

- Advocates and experts including Sunna Ævarsdóttir (Courage International), Renata Ávila Pinto (openness lawyer), Chip Gibbons (researcher), Jesselyn Radack (ExposeFacts), Suelette Dreyfus (Blueprint for Free Speech), and Scott Ludlam (former Australian Senator) address freedom of speech, protection of sources, and political fallout.

- Artists and collectives like Andrei Molodkin (conceptual artist), Robert Trafford (Forensic Architecture/Forensis), Davide Dormino (visual artist/activist), Institute for Dissent and Datalove (hackers/artists collective), and others explore how creative practices document injustice and serve as forms of resistance.

The closing panel on March 21 (20:00–22:00), ”Art as Evidence & Resistance”, moderated by Becky Haghpanah-Shirwan (Director, A/POLITICAL), brings this artistic dimension into focus.

I (Manja McCade, artist and co-founder of the Julian Assange Archive e.V.) will be joining this panel.

This symposium arrives at a pivotal moment in 2026. As threats to independent journalism, whistleblowers, and transparency persist worldwide, events like this serve as vital spaces for reflection and strategy. WikiLeaks’ revelations were never just data—they ignited debates on power, ethics, and accountability that continue today. The Activation Day on March 22 will channel these discussions into concrete tactics for the future.

The event is free to stream (with German simultaneous translation for the main panels), and in-person tickets are available (1-day €15/reduced €9; 3-day €35/reduced €21). Join the Disruption Network Lab Telegram or newsletter for updates.

For the Julian Assange Archive, this symposium represents continuity: from the leaks that exposed truths to the grassroots solidarity that sustained the fight, now preserved and activated for new generations. We look forward to sharing more from Berlin—and welcoming visitors to our permanent space in Dessau later in 2026.

For full details and tickets:

https://www.disruptionlab.org/exposing-crimes-is-not-a-crime

If you have materials from the WikiLeaks era or the broader transparency movement, art, banners, or stories—consider contributing to the Archive for preservation and future exhibitions. Your support helps ensure these stories endure, whether through donations to sustain our work or by sharing this post to spread the word. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference in keeping the memory alive.

Visit the Archive Website: https://www.julianassangearchive.org or send us an email: info@julianassangearchive.org

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Thank you for reading Assange Archive.

See you in Berlin— and soon in Dessau.

Manja
For the Julian Assange Archive e.V.

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