Julian Assange, often hailed as the father of truth and a symbol of real, unbiased journalism, became a global figure through his creation of WikiLeaks. Before founding WikiLeaks, Assange was known by the alias "Mendax"—a name derived from the Latin phrase "me Dax," meaning "noble liar"—when he hacked into NASA's systems at the age of 16. One of WikiLeaks' first major leaks, the 9/11 pager files, released thousands of pager messages sent during the September 11 attacks, providing raw and unfiltered insights into the tragic events of that day.
This release was controversial, with many debating the ethics and implications of making such information public. Assange frequently referenced a quote from his favorite band, Midnight Oil, often using a misspelled version, "prepair," which led to speculation about whether it was a code or simply a deliberate error. This quote, and his consistent challenge to powerful institutions, encapsulates the complexity and controversial nature of Assange’s mission: to expose the truth, regardless of the consequences.