Quick Info
| Profession | Editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Australian |
| Date of Birth | 03/07/1971 |
| Age | 54 years |
| Birthplace | Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
Latest News about Julian Assange
25/10/2025
One year after his release from UK prison, Julian Assange addressed the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, discussing his nearly decade-long arbitrary detention, the smear campaign against him and WikiLeaks, CIA assassination and kidnapping plots revealed by witnesses, Espionage Act charges, and severe health decline during five years in Belmarsh prison. He stated he was not yet fully equipped to speak about the relentless struggle to stay alive physically and mentally.
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Bio/Wiki
| Real Name | Julian Paul Assange |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Mendax |
| Zodiac sign/Sun sign | Cancer |
| School | Goolmangar Primary School in New South Wales, Townsville State High School |
| College | Central Queensland University, University of Melbourne |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 188 cm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 72 kg |
| Eye Color | Blue |
| Hair Color | White |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Bachelor of Science Degree | Programming, Mathematics, and Physics |
|---|
Personal Life
| Religion | Not Known |
|---|---|
| Hobbies | Reading Novels and Being involved with Children |
Relationships & More
| Marital Status | Divorced |
|---|---|
| Affairs/Girlfriends | Sarah Harrison, Teresa Assange |
| Wife/Spouse | Teresa Assange (Divorced) |
| Children | Daniel Assange |
Family
| Father | John Shipton |
|---|---|
| Mother | Christine Ann Hawkins |
| Spouse | Teresa Assange |
| Children | Daniel Assange |
Career
| Controversy | Leaking Classified Documents: Julian was detained in London in 2019 on US espionage charges for publishing classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010 and 2011 with potential consequences of a 175-year sentence. In February 2024, Australia's parliament and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called for his release and sought to resolve his case. Assange was released from prison on 24/06/2024 after negotiating a plea deal with US prosecutors, pleading guilty on 25/06/2024 in Saipan to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents, and receiving a sentence of time served before returning to Australia on 26/06/2024. |
|---|---|
| Early Career | Computer programmer and security consultant. In 1991, charged with 31 counts of cybercrime after hacking into Nortel's Melbourne terminal; pleaded guilty to 24 charges in December 1996 and received a fine of A$2,100 and good behaviour bond. In 1993, provided technical assistance to Victoria Police Child Exploitation Unit to prosecute child pornography distributors. |
| WikiLeaks Founding | Founded WikiLeaks in 2006 as a media organization dedicated to publishing classified documents and promoting transparency and freedom of information through what Assange called 'scientific journalism'—providing primary source materials with minimal editorial commentary. |
| Major Releases | In 2010, released the Afghan War Diary, a collection of nearly 90,000 classified U.S. military documents regarding the war in Afghanistan, which sparked global debate over internet ethics, censorship, and the implications of leaked information. |
| Broadcasting | From 2012, hosted 'The World Tomorrow', a talk show that debuted online and on RT (Russian state-funded satellite news network) in April 2012, beginning with an interview with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah. |
| Legal Challenges | Detained in London in 2019 on US espionage charges for publishing classified military and diplomatic documents in 2010 and 2011. Sought asylum in Ecuador's London embassy from 2012 to 2019 to avoid extradition. Spent approximately five years in Belmarsh prison fighting extradition to the United States, facing potential 175-year sentence. Released from prison on 24/06/2024 after negotiating a plea deal with US prosecutors, pleading guilty on 25/06/2024 in Saipan to one count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified US national defense documents, receiving a sentence of time served, and returning to Australia on 26/06/2024. |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Julian Assange began hacking in 1987 using the alias Mendax. | |
| 2. He co-established a hacking group called International Subversives with friends named Trax and Prime Suspect. | |
| 3. Assange successfully infiltrated several prominent institutions and companies through hacking. | |
| 4. In 1994, he ventured into programming and collaborated on the development of the strobe.c Transmission Control Protocol port scanner. | |
| 5. The year 2006 saw Assange as a co-founder of WikiLeaks. | |
| 6. Throughout his career, he has been embroiled in various controversies and legal battles. | |
| 7. Assange has garnered support from influential individuals and organizations globally. | |
| 8. Due to his work, Assange has encountered numerous threats and obstacles. | |
| 9. His personal life is intricate, marked by relationships and familial disagreements. | |
| 10. He developed free computer software and programming including Strobe, Surfraw, the Linux Rubberhose deniable encryption system, and the Usenet-caching software NNTPCache. | |
| 11. He played a role in the 1993 founding of the Suburbia Public Access Network in Australia, one of the country's first public internet service providers. | |
| 12. The year 2006 saw Assange as a founder of WikiLeaks. |