WikiLeaks: A short lived scandal or a catalyst for fundamental change?

WikiLeaks hit the headlines last week and the story is still unfolding at high speed. Picked up by both specialist bloggers and international media, WikiLeaks is possibly the most controversial scandal of the digital age... and it's not over yet.

News began to break last week regarding the online disclosure of highly sensitive US Government data and correspondence. Since then, allegations have followed and one arrest has been made; bail pledges made by stars of stage, screen and political persuasion have been denied, and a whole new vocabulary has emerged surrounding the guerilla tactics of a group of 'hacktivists' who have this week targeted a number of US based organisations and one Swiss Bank in retaliation. You couldn't make it up.

Among all the controversy and salacious commentary, one journalist has this week asked perhaps the most sobering question: How will this alter the future development of cloud computing? Many may be unfamilar with the term, but few will remain untouched by its influence online. Cloud computing is the means by which we all regularly share data 'out there', in the clouds, allowing it to move freely and be read and absorbed by anyone at anytime. It has driven the explosion of sites such as Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, none of which actually provide content, but instead deliver a means to share it. Blogs of all description, both personal and professional, share similar principles regarding the exchange of ideas, debate and discussion.

Cloud computing is readily encouraged by internet giants as the future of data storage, unconfined by the desktops and dusty sharedrives of yesteryear. In our opinion, cloud computing will undoubtedly continue to develop, and at a pace. In the future, pictures of forefathers won't be found in browning photo albumns in the attic, but on the web. Brands will see their longevity and consistency of message tested through search engine results and aggregator tools. File sharing systems will become increasingly sophisticated. Commercial cloud computing is starting to become much more mainstream, providing rich dialogue between suppliers and customers, contractors and colleagues. Yet as this latest scandal indicates, cloud computing it is a data storage system, and one which to an extent built on principles of openness and co-creation. As such, it is under pressure and susceptible to the critical eye of governments, popular opinion, current and future customers.

.