WikiLeaks, known for leaking classified and clandestine information, has published 30,287 documents and 173,132 emails—to and from over 2,200 email addresses from Sony Pictures Entertainment—released to the public as a result of the 2014 hacking.
Run by Julian Assange, WikiLeaks published on Thursday, April 16, the searchable database, which will give anyone access to the files, emails and documents online in a simple search format. The searchable database is dubbed "The Sony Archives."
"This archive shows the inner workings of an influential multinational corporation," stated Assange. "It is newsworthy and at the [center] of a geo-political conflict. It belongs in the public domain. WikiLeaks will ensure it stays there."
At the height of the Sony Pictures controversy, media reports often zeroed in on former studio chief Amy Pascal's influence in the movie industry and her remarks about certain A-List celebrities. WikiLeaks has, however, taken a different route by pointing to other incidents behind the scenes. The current leaked data, for instance, includes information on Sony Pictures' lobbying efforts and political fundraising activities.
Some industry secrets include the studio's allocation of a $1 million budget for Anatoly Kucherena, NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden's Russian lawyer, and the establishment of a collective in order to fund the campaign of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is known for supporting tax incentives for the film and TV industries and launching anti-piracy initiatives.
"The archives also detail SPE's development of its own films and collecting 'intelligence' on rival pictures, for example, documents in the archive reveal the budget breakdown for Oliver Stone's rival picture 'Snowden,' which is currently in production," noted the press release from WikiLeaks.
WikiLeaks has been instrumental in releasing classified documents and diplomatic records pertaining to the U.S. military in the past.
Sony Pictures, which dubs the cyberattack—believed to be the work of North Korea—"a malicious criminal act," has condemned the WikiLeaks act. It "vehemently" disagrees with WikiLeaks' argument that these emails and documents have a rightful place in the public sphere.
"The attackers used the dissemination of stolen information to try to harm SPE and its employees, and now WikiLeaks regrettably is assisting them in that effort," said a Sony Pictures spokesperson.
Sony Pictures asserted that it would leave no stone unturned to fight for the privacy, security and safety of the company and its employees. The company is also thinking of taking legal action against WikiLeaks but it did not release any details.
Photo: Wikileaks Mobile Information Collection Unit | Flickr
