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- Julian Assange: who is this computer scientist turned international whistleblower
- From Australian hacker to founder of WikiLeaks: a long road to international fame
- Private life and trial: the ordeals of a hunted man
- Julian Assange in 2025: news, struggles and controversies
- Lists: The key milestones in the life of Julian Assange 🚀
Julian Assange is a somewhat mythical guy. Born in 1971 in Townsville, Australia, he is now 53 years old. Not very tall, about 1.79 m, he became known as the guy behind WikiLeaks. Oh, and personally, he’s a rather unconventional bachelor, given that his public life has been a real series of adventures.
His childhood? Rather free, an artist mother, a bohemian family, it surely gave him that slightly rebellious and nonconformist side we know today. He caught the passion for computing as a teenager, built a reputation as a hacker, and mind you, not the nice geek type, no, a curious computer pirate. He was even convicted in 1996 for infiltrating an Australian army network. The judge said it was more curiosity than real malice, does that ring a bell?
After that, he understood well that the internet could be a weapon, a showcase, and above all a cage for those wanting to reveal hidden truths. So in 2006, he launched WikiLeaks, a portal to help whistleblowers transmit their information without getting crushed. A crazy, risky bet, but he already had a plan: transparency at all costs.
The turning point came in 2010. That’s when everything exploded with the release of a shocking video showing an American strike in Iraq. The thing that kills for Trump, Hillary, everyone. WikiLeaks released all these top secret files, revealing the hidden face of American wars. Can you imagine? Le Monde, The Guardian, the New York Times, all partners in this punch operation.
Julian Assange: who is this computer scientist turned international whistleblower
So, in terms of identity, Julian is a guy who started in the shadows of Australian hackers. Before the big leap with WikiLeaks, he was already tinkering with systems, attracted by the freedom of information. Honestly, beyond the hacker, he’s an idealist, which is why some love him and others hate him.
He is 1.79 m tall, which makes him quite ordinary physically, but his impact is huge. Single, he has rarely spoken about his private life, mainly because of legal troubles and years spent secluded or in prison. He’s more on the discreet or even mysterious side.
Julian is also a symbol. A guy people either adore or fear because he challenges the powerful. This guy has the audacity to defy the United States, with all the risks that implies. The kind of person who makes your hair stand on end just by hearing his name.
His path before all this is therefore years of digging, hacking, coding, until understanding that his real fight was for free and accessible information. Without him, we probably wouldn’t speak as loudly about the right to transparency and truth.
From Australian hacker to founder of WikiLeaks: a long road to international fame
In the 90s, Assange was known in the underground scene for his technical skills and rebellious spirit. He made his mark by hacking, let’s not hide it, but the effect was more intellectual than malicious. Can you imagine, infiltrating a military network just because it intellectually interested him? It’s crazy.
Everything changed with the creation of WikiLeaks in 2006. He offered a digital refuge to those who want to expose secrets without ending up in jail. And there, his notoriety exploded with the 2010 bombshell, the famous “Collateral Murder” video that ignited the powder keg. The world discovered this story through hundreds of thousands of declassified documents.
This success, however, put him in the crosshairs of the United States. Hillary Clinton herself hates him, which says a lot. Chelsea Manning, the one who provided the documents, ended up in prison, while Julian himself navigated between prosecutions and protection.
In 2012, he took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. Seven years locked in that tiny box, hard to imagine. Assange lived a form of exile there, often difficult, far from the freedom he nonetheless defends.
Private life and trial: the ordeals of a hunted man
We can’t talk about Assange without mentioning this judicial fiasco. Accused in Sweden from 2010, he claims his innocence and explains that it’s all just a pretext to extradite him to the States. So he decided to lock himself in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid extradition.
Honestly, seven years locked inside like a hermit, you’d think it must change you. His health declined, his relations with the embassy became strained, it was a real closed-door situation. And during this time, WikiLeaks kept striking, like in 2016 with the publication of the emails that sunk Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
The return to legal troubles was harsh in 2019, when the embassy finally withdrew. Assange was arrested, marked, almost unrecognizable. A shocking moment the whole world saw, a symbol of the harshness with which some states treat whistleblowers.
He is then prosecuted for espionage in the United States, which raises major concerns about global freedom of information. In 2024, after a long exhausting fight, he is finally free, thanks to an agreement with the American justice system. An end of saga that perhaps marks a new beginning.
Julian Assange in 2025: news, struggles and controversies
So today, where is Julian? He is no longer locked up in London; he is free and back in Australia. His fight continues, even though he lost much support. He even recently filed a complaint against the Nobel Foundation, in a rather surprising story linked to the prize awarded to a Venezuelan opponent.
It’s crazy how he remains in the spotlight, between legal battles and public stands. He doesn’t give in, even in front of powerful institutions, which earns him as much admiration as fierce criticism.
His path is a real rollercoaster of success, struggles and controversies. He still collaborates with media and journalists, always driven by a fierce desire to defend the freedom to inform, even if it means risking everything.
And if you want to know more about his latest adventures, I recommend taking a look at this precise summary of his release in 2024 or at his detailed judicial case that keeps making headlines in the media.
Some surprising anecdotes about Julian Assange 🕵️♂️
- He nearly ended up attacked not only by states but also by some former allies, notably after controversial publications.
- In 2012, confined in a tiny room for 7 years, he took advantage of his rare outings to smoke on a small balcony of the embassy.
- His health deteriorated so much during his detention that several NGOs, like Amnesty International, raised the alarm.
- He was in a relationship for several years with a journalist, but the relationship remains very discreet, almost legendary in its privacy.
If you want to understand why Julian Assange is so controversial but also crucial for freedom of expression, check out this complete overview of his trials by Amnesty International. You can clearly see all the stakes involved.
Lists: The key milestones in the life of Julian Assange 🚀
- 1971: birth in Townsville (Australia) 🎂
- 1996: conviction for military hacking 💻
- 2006: creation of WikiLeaks 🌐
- 2010: release of the “Collateral Murder” video and secret military documents 📰
- 2012: asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London 🏠
- 2016: release of Hillary Clinton’s campaign emails 📧
- 2019: arrest and start of extradition proceedings to the United States 🚔
- 2024: judicial agreement and release 🎉
- 2025: complaint against the Nobel Foundation for the prize awarded to a Venezuelan opponent ⚖️
Julian Assange, an extraordinary character who marked an era and continues to challenge us on the limits of freedom of expression and the power of the powerful. More than just a hacker, a living, complex and fascinating symbol.
In this fight, he attracts both the sympathy of human rights defenders and the anger of governments. Everyone has their opinion, of course, but that’s what makes him such a captivating and indispensable figure.
Think of everything he has been through: prison, hiding, constant surveillance… it’s rare, honestly, to see a man hold out so long against those who want to silence him.
And we don’t yet know what the future holds for him, but one thing is certain: Julian Assange will not stop anytime soon, and he continues to move the lines. Here’s a figure that will leave no one indifferent.
