March 19–22 2026 · Berlin

Exposing Crimes is Not a Crime

The Real-World Consequences of WikiLeaks

3-Days Symposium · 19–21 March 2026 · HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU1), Berlin

Activation Day · 22 March 2026 · Stadtwerkstatt, Berlin

English with German simultaneous translation

Tickets available on February 2, 2026 – Sign up for our Newsletter for reminders

1 Day Ticket 15 €(Reduced 9 €) · 3 Day Ticket 35 € (Reduced 21 €)

WikiLeaks transformed journalism by changing how public information is created and accessed. This symposium explores its legacy, why its work mattered, and how society and politics shifted as its global releases exposed systems of power. WikiLeaks members, journalists, lawyers, experts, artists, activists, and major whistleblowers discuss war, surveillance, secrecy, and new paths for action and resistance.

WikiLeaks changed the basis of journalistic research and production, revolutionising the creation and accessibility of public information. What remains of this spirit today, and why has this work been so important? How have society and politics changed since WikiLeaks began operating on a global scale? This symposium by Disruption Network Lab brings together the WikiLeaks team, high-impact journalists, human rights lawyers, experts, artists and activists who worked on matters touched upon by WikiLeaks leaks and material. Whistleblowers from the NSA, CIA, FBI, and the military will also be present, offering first-hand insights into the systems of power investigated by WikiLeaks. Topics include the reasons behind WikiLeaks' work, the context of war and the military–industrial complex, the effects of revealing information on intelligence, cyber surveillance, global economy, and corporate and government secrets. Together, we will imagine new forms of action, art and resistance.

Programme

Exposing Crimes is Not a Crime

The Real-World Consequences of WikiLeaks

3-Day Symposium · 19–21 March 2026 · HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU1), Berlin (+ Follow-up at Stadtwerkstatt 22 March).

English with German simultaneous translation


Thursday, March 19 2026

HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU1), Berlin

17:00 · Opening Words

17:10–19:10 · The Reasons Behind

Stella Assange · Julian Assange's wife, UK/AU, Sunna Aevarsdottir · Global Director of Courage International, IS, Renata Ávila Pinto · Attorney and Activist, CEO of Open Knowledge Foundation, GT/UK, Chip Gibbons · Journalist and Researcher, US.
Moderator: Tatiana Bazzichelli · Director, Disruption Network Lab, IT/DE.

20:00–22:00 · War & Military

Lisa Ling · Whistleblower, Former Technical Sergeant, US Air Force Drone Surveillance Programme, US, John Kiriakou · Former CIA Counter-Terrorism Officer and anti-torture whistleblower, US, John Goetz · Investigative Journalist, NDR-editor for investigations at ARD-Hauptstadtstudio, DE, Jesselyn Radack · Head of the Whistleblower and Source Protection Program WHISPeR at ExposeFacts, US/FR.
Moderator: Michael Sontheimer · Journalist and Author, DE.

Friday, March 20 2026

HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU1), Berlin

17:00-19:00 · Government & Diplomatic Cables

Kristinn Hrafnsson · Editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, IS, Stefania Maurizi · Investigative Journalist, IT, Ewen MacAskill · Former Guardian's Defence and Intelligence Correspondent, UK, a.o.
Moderator: Joseph Farrell · Editor of WikiLeaks, UK.

20:00-22:00 · Intelligence & Cybersurveillance

Thomas Drake · Whistleblower, former Senior Executive at the National Security Agency, US, Suelette Dreyfus · Technology Researcher, Executive Director, Blueprint for Free Speech, AU, Terry Albury · Former FBI Agent, Whistleblower, US, Andy Müller-Maguhn · Wau Holland Foundation, DE.
Moderator: Mark Curtis · Co-Director and Editor, Declassified UK, Journalist, UK.

Saturday, March 21 2026

HAU Hebbel am Ufer (HAU1), Berlin

17:00-19:00 Global Economy & Corporate Secrets

Matthew Kennard · Journalist, UK, Scott Ludlam · Former Senator for Western Australia, AU, Esteban Servat · Climate Activist, Founder, EcoLeaks AR/DE, Clara Rubio Lopez · Filmmaker, ES/DE.
Moderator: Deepa Govindarajan Driver · Lecturer in Governance, Regulation and Risk, Henley Business School, UK.

20:00-22:00 · Art as Evidence & Resistance

Davide Dormino · Sculpture Artist, IT, Robert Trafford · Forensic Architecture, Assistant Director, Researcher, Open-Source Investigations, UK/DE, Institute for Dissent and Datalove · Collective of Hackers, Artists, Activists and Tinkerers, DE, FR, US, Manja McCade · The Julian Assange Archive, DE.
Moderator: Becky Haghpanah-Shirwan · Director at A/POLITICAL, UK.

Sunday, March 22 2026

Stadtwerkstatt, Berlin

Activation Day · Tactics & Actions for the Future

Andrei Molodkin · Conceptual Artist, RU/FR – Institute for Dissent and Datalove · Collective of Hackers, Artists, Activists and Tinkerers, DE, FR, US – Davide Dormino  · Sculpture Artist, IT – Manja McCade · The Julian Assange Archive, DE – Tatiana Bazzichelli · Director, Disruption Network Lab, IT/DE, and others tba.