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A 'leak' in political and news circles is a release to the public of secret or confidential information without official authorisation, and without acknowledgement of the source of the leak.

Contents

Reasons for leaks

Well-known leaks

USA

Reasons for leaks

★ Politicians and may wish to judge the reaction of the public to their plans before committing (a trial balloon). Leaked information may be plausibly denied without blame for proposed unpopular measures affecting their perpetrators.

★ People with access to confidential information may find it to their advantage to make it public, without themselves appearing to be responsible for publishing the information. For example, information which will embarrass political opponents, or cause damage to national security, may be leaked.

★ People privy to secret information about matters which they consider to be morally wrong or against the public interest — often referred to as "whistleblowers" — may leak the information.

Well-known leaks

USA

★ A source known as Deep Throat leaked information related to the Watergate scandal.

★ Columnist Robert Novak published a leak, outing CIA agent Valerie Plame.