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A more precise term would be leaker, as somebody who commits a data breach or spillage (military term). Manning did release evidence that appears to constitute a potentially criminal act, however the quantity and material subject of information leaked greatly exceeded any single, or collection of, criminal acts at 750,000 unrelated items.

A whistleblower is a subset of leaking with the limited intention of exposing something specifically nefarious.

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistleblower

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_breach

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spillage_of_classified_informa...




She leaked after she followed the correct whistleblowing channels.

Whistleblowing only works if the people significantly higher up aren't supportive or complicit with the illegal actions.




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