Piaras Kelly PR - Public Relations in Ireland

What is told in the ear of a man is often heard 100 miles away - Chinese Proverb

The world’s population is so well connected today thanks to things like the Internet, mobile phones and digital cameras. People are overcoming traditional barriers obstructing the spread of information with ease and there is nothing that anyone can do about it.

What does this mean for the leaked document? Years ago it meant slipping a couple of pages into a briefcase and sneaking out of the office without being caught or having a conversation overheard by an interested party.

In the modern age though all you have to do is press a button and send an email to a journalist, capture a picture on your camera phone or record a conversation on your mobile phone. More importantly though there are numerous tools available for you to make that information available on the Internet and let it spread like wildfire.

Craig Murray, the former ambassador to Uzbekistan, is trying to publish a book covering his time as ambassador but the British Foreign Office are blocking its release because they want references to two documents which state that the use of torture is allegedly routine in Uzbekistan removed from the book and his website. Murray responded by publishing the documents on his site. (As reported on Boing Boing)

In reality all organisations can do is draw up suitable guidelines for their employees governing sensitive information. The digital trail that can be left behind today is far worse than a stray email to the wrong participant.

Information wants to be free. Try and stop it if you want, but it’s the Houdini of our generation - there are no chains that can stop its spread!