The Data Vault: Unveiling Secrets
Illuminating global secrets through investigative journalism and a commitment to radical transparency.
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About DDoSecrets
Organization Overview
Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDoSecrets) is a nonprofit whistleblower site and document archive, established in 2018. It functions as a platform for news leaks and serves as a critical resource for investigative journalism, often working in collaboration with media organizations worldwide.
Mission and Scope
The organization's core mission is to ensure the free transmission of data in the public interest, positioning itself as a "publisher of last resort." DDoSecrets archives and disseminates vast quantities of data from diverse sources, spanning governmental bodies, corporations, and various organizations across numerous countries.
Legal Status and Structure
DDoSecrets operates as a nonprofit entity, recognized by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a 501(c)(3) organization. It does not require registration from its users and operates on a non-commercial basis, relying on its mission to drive its operations.
Historical Trajectory
Genesis and Foundation
Founded by Emma Best, a prominent national security reporter known for her extensive Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, and Thomas White, DDoSecrets publicly launched in December 2018. At its inception, the site hosted over a terabyte of data from high-profile leaks, initially considering full public release but later adopting a tiered access model for sensitive information.
Collaborations and Affiliations
DDoSecrets has forged significant partnerships with journalistic organizations such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), European Investigative Collaborations, and the Henri Nannen Journalism School. It also established an affiliation with Harvard University's Institute for Quantitative Social Science, underscoring its role in data-driven research.
Growth and Evolution
By December 2023, DDoSecrets reported publishing over 100 million files from 59 countries. The organization has continuously expanded its data repositories, managing terabytes of information and launching new initiatives like the "Greenhouse Project" to combat censorship and preserve critical information.
Notable Publications
BlueLeaks and Law Enforcement Data
In June 2020, DDoSecrets released "BlueLeaks," a massive trove of 269 gigabytes of internal U.S. law enforcement data obtained from fusion centers. This leak provided an unprecedented look into the operations of American law enforcement agencies, including their responses to events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests.
Financial and Corporate Leaks
The organization has published extensive data related to financial activities, including leaks from the Cayman National Bank and Trust, revealing politically exposed clients. Collaborations like "#29Leaks" with OCCRP exposed the operations of company mills, drawing parallels to the Panama and Paradise Papers.
International and Political Disclosures
DDoSecrets has been instrumental in releasing data concerning international affairs, such as leaks related to the Russo-Ukrainian War, documents from Myanmar's military and investment commissions, and extensive military documents from Latin America and Mexico ("Fuerzas Represivas"). They also published data from the 2022-2023 Pentagon document leaks.
Social Media and Online Platforms
The site has released data scraped from social media and online platforms, including millions of messages from Discord servers used by extremist groups, data from Gab, and videos from Parler, some of which were used as evidence in political trials. They also published donor information from crowdfunding sites like GiveSendGo.
Reactions and Recognition
Descriptions and Classifications
DDoSecrets has been described in various ways by media and institutions, including as a "transparency collective," a "WikiLeaks-style journalist collective," a "watchdog group," and a "leaktivist collective." These descriptions highlight its role in facilitating public access to information.
Government and Institutional Views
The U.S. counterintelligence strategy has identified DDoSecrets and similar organizations as "significant threats." In contrast, the IRS recognized the group as a legitimate nonprofit. German authorities, at the request of the U.S. government, seized a server used by the organization in 2020.
Media Impact
The leaks published by DDoSecrets have frequently contributed to major journalistic investigations and have been cited by numerous news outlets. The organization's work has been recognized for its impact on public discourse and its role in holding powerful entities accountable.
Challenges and Censorship
Platform Bans and Restrictions
DDoSecrets has faced significant censorship. In June 2020, Twitter banned the organization's account in response to the BlueLeaks publication, citing policy violations. Access to their website has also been reportedly blocked by governments in Indonesia and Russia, and censored by platforms like Twitter and Reddit.
Legal and Take-down Requests
The organization has received take-down requests, such as one from a spyware company regarding mSpy data, which DDoSecrets reportedly ignored. A Telegram channel operated by the group was also closed without notice after publishing sensitive government files.
Resilience and Counter-Censorship Efforts
In response to censorship and data accessibility challenges, DDoSecrets launched the "Greenhouse Project" in 2024. This initiative aims to preserve censored information and create a "warming effect" against censorship, demonstrating the organization's commitment to ensuring data availability.
Ongoing Initiatives
Greenhouse Project
Launched in 2024, this project is dedicated to preserving information that has been censored or removed from public access. It aims to counteract the "chilling effects of censorship" by making critical data more resilient and accessible, acting as a bulwark for free information transmission.
Library of Leaks
A project focused on the preservation of existing leaked data. It emphasizes coordination with external groups and aims to create a comprehensive, accessible repository of historical leaks, ensuring their long-term availability and utility for researchers and the public.
Disclosure Without Borders
This initiative concentrates on new publications and the protection of sources. It complements the Library of Leaks by actively seeking out and disseminating new information while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding the individuals who provide sensitive data.
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional journalistic, legal, or cybersecurity consultation. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs. Never disregard professional advice because of something you have read on this website.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.