I do not question the morality behind Assange's action, and I am not at all supporting the accusations from government and corporations that Assange is a "terrorist" or anything close to the definition. However, during the TED talk, the interviewer warns of a future in which government takes on a personality similar to the Big Brother idea presented in George Orwell's 1984. However, I believe that it could be argued in the opposite direction that Assange and his group of freelancers are becoming a new form of Big Brother.
In Orwell's now classic novel, 1984, Big Brother is half government-propaganda-machine, half sub-conscious-entity that watched the citizens of a dictatorship government's actions, words, and even thoughts to detect any sort of dissidence among the populace and any form of uprise. The purpose behind the Wikileak Big Brother is quite different, but the concept still similar. Governments and corporations now have to be more careful about what they do, who's watching what they do, and how they document their actions. The ever watchful eye of freedom of speech and information freelancers may be upon you, seeking vengeance.
Although for many this does not sound so bad from a moral standpoint, consider another perspective. During the TED talk, the interviewer brings up the point that the video of the air-raid in Baghdad not only harms the image of the US government, but also the soldiers perpetrating the act. The soldiers may argue that they themselves are victims of the American war-machine and senseless violence that they have been exposed to during their service. However, this is an issue for the public to contest now that the video is completely public, clearly showing soldiers more or less chuckling as they kill 18 civilians.
So, the actions of individuals now are also to be scrutinized by the world. A Big Brother watching over the morality of evil corporations and secretive government organizations doesn't sound half bad, but someone watching over your choices is a different ball game. Some may argue that it's good that there's finally someone exposing the ill deeds of humans on this earth, and I may be inclined to agree, but this new, now small, but growing judgement-maker on earth presents a new moral standpoint for all those inclined to believe that their actions go unnoticed.
