Heather Brooke
Heather Brooke
Heather Rose Brookeis a British-American journalist and freedom of information campaigner. Resident since the 1990s in the UK, she helped to expose the 2009 expenses scandal, which culminated in the resignation of House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionJournalist
CountryUnited States of America
across age digital example global globe information instantly interest niche power spread wikileaks
The speed with which WikiLeaks went from niche interest to global prominence was a real-time example of the revolutionizing power of the digital age in which information can spread instantly across the globe through networked individuals.
age
What the interconnected age in which we live allows us to do is instantly connect with each other.
age becomes collected deals digital dinners diplomacy enormous involved parties reports ruling
Diplomacy has always involved dinners with ruling elites, backroom deals and clandestine meetings. Now, in the digital age, the reports of all those parties and patrician chats can be collected in one enormous database. And once collected in digital form, it becomes very easy for them to be shared.
age digital government officials seizure
Unwarranted search and seizure by the government officials was unacceptable to the American revolutionaries. Shouldn't it be unacceptable in the digital age, too?
agency considered domestic intelligence national protection sharing spy
In America, you have the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act. You've got drones now being considered for domestic surveillance. You have the National Security Agency building the world's giantest spy center.
agenda authors becomes books current events goes timely
As the news agenda goes into warp speed, it becomes ever more difficult for authors writing about current events to keep their books timely and relevant.
age cost costs disclose distribute money
It used to cost money to disclose and distribute information. In the digital age it costs money not to.
advertising appear costs covering license longer newspapers people somewhere whether
Newspapers are not free and they never have been. They can appear to be so, but someone, somewhere is covering the costs whether that is through advertising, a patron's largesse or a license fee. Advertising is no longer subsidising the industry and so the cost must fall somewhere - why not on the people who use it?
money serious spend value work
If you don't think there is any value in the work I, or any other serious journalists do, then don't spend your money on it. At least you have the choice.
announce change hope hours major minister policy prime result
You can't hope for a better result as a campaigner than to have the prime minister announce a major policy change within 48 hours of your documentary.
courts criminal delayed leads pay
We pay a lot for our court service, but it's not enough. Courts are under-resourced, which leads to delayed justice - particularly in criminal courts.
build consensus free society speak values
We need to codify our values and build consensus around what we want from a free society and a free Internet. We need to put into law protections for our privacy and our right to speak and assemble.
believe damaging
If you really believe in a cause, let the cause speak for itself. And if you, by your personality, are damaging that cause, if you really believe in it, you step aside.
approach fantastic government growth lack largely oversight quite success
A lack of government oversight hasn't hindered the Internet. Quite the opposite. A hands-off approach is largely responsible for its fantastic growth and success.