Meaning:
The quote by Julian Assange, an Australian activist and journalist, highlights the growing disparity between the speed at which information is being leaked to organizations such as WikiLeaks and the capacity of these organizations to process and publish this information. Assange's words shed light on the challenges faced by organizations that are dedicated to disseminating leaked information to the public, particularly as the volume and frequency of leaked material continue to rise.
The first part of the quote, "As we've gotten more successful, there's a gap between the speed of our publishing pipeline and the speed of our receiving submissions pipeline," underscores the imbalance between the inflow of leaked information and the ability to process and publish it. This suggests that as organizations like WikiLeaks gain prominence and success in their efforts to uncover and expose sensitive information, the rate at which they receive submissions outpaces their ability to effectively manage and release this information to the public.
The use of the term "pipeline" in the quote is indicative of a continuous flow of information, with the publishing pipeline representing the process of vetting, verifying, and ultimately releasing leaked material, while the receiving submissions pipeline denotes the influx of new submissions of potentially sensitive or classified information. The widening gap between these two pipelines can be attributed to the exponential increase in the volume of leaked material, which surpasses the organization's capacity to process and publish it.
The second part of the quote, "Our pipeline of leaks has been increasing exponentially as our profile rises, and our ability to publish is increasing linearly," further emphasizes the disparity between the growing influx of leaked information and the comparatively slower rate at which this information can be made public. The exponential growth of leaked material is directly linked to the rising profile and impact of organizations like WikiLeaks, as their efforts to bring to light classified or controversial information attract more submissions. Conversely, the linear increase in their ability to publish indicates a more gradual and constrained capacity to handle and release this mounting volume of leaks.
The quote effectively encapsulates the challenges faced by organizations like WikiLeaks in managing the deluge of leaked information they receive. This predicament raises important questions about the infrastructure, resources, and methodologies needed to effectively process and disseminate leaked material in a timely and responsible manner. It also highlights the ethical and legal considerations that come into play when handling sensitive information, as well as the potential impact of delays in the publication of such material.
In conclusion, Julian Assange's quote serves as a poignant reminder of the formidable task faced by organizations involved in the publication of leaked information, particularly in the face of exponential growth in submissions and a comparatively slower pace of publishing. It prompts reflection on the complexities and implications of managing and releasing sensitive information, and underscores the importance of addressing the widening gap between the speed of receiving submissions and the speed of the publishing pipeline.