Julian Assange is an Australian computer programmer and the founder of WikiLeaks, a website dedicated to publishing classified information from anonymous sources. He has become one of the most controversial figures of the 21st century due to his role in exposing government and corporate secrets, including the Iraq War Logs and the Afghan War Diaries. Assange has been subject to multiple legal proceedings and has been awarded numerous awards for his journalistic work. This article provides a brief biography of Julian Assange, from his early life to his rise to fame and his political activism.
Early Life
Julian Assange was born on July 3, 1971 in Townsville, Australia. He was raised in a single-parent household by his mother, who worked as a visual artist. Assange showed an early aptitude for computers, becoming proficient in programming by the age of 16. After dropping out of school, he went on to pursue a degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Melbourne. After completing his degree, Assange became a software developer and hacker, and went on to found WikiLeaks in 2006.
Rise to Fame
Assange’s rise to fame began in 2010 when WikiLeaks released a series of leaked US government documents. This included the Afghanistan War Logs, the Iraq War Logs, and the US diplomatic cables. These documents shed light on the inner workings of the US government and were widely reported on by the media. Assange was praised for his role in exposing government secrets, and quickly became a public figure. He was also heavily criticized by some for his role in publishing classified information.
Political Activism
In addition to his work with WikiLeaks, Assange has also been involved in various political activities. In 2012, he was granted political asylum by Ecuador and spent seven years living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. During this time, he continued to work with WikiLeaks, as well as pursue legal cases against the US government. He has also been involved in various campaigns to protect whistleblowers and promote press freedom.
Julian Assange is a complex and controversial figure. His role in exposing government and corporate secrets has made him an important figure in the world of journalism and activism. Despite his involvement in legal proceedings, he continues to work tirelessly to promote freedom of the press and protect whistleblowers.
