EU to have its own WikiLeaks 'copycat'

BRUSSELS, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- A self-funded group of former European Union officials, activists and media-sector workers based in Belgium say they've set up an EU version of WikiLeaks.

Brusselsleaks.com has invited people to anonymously send in sensitive EU-related documents using an encrypted contact form, EUobserver reported Tuesday.

Unlike WikiLeaks, Brussels Leaks will not publish any material itself but will instead check the documents' authenticity and pass them on to selected media, similar to the policy of OpenLeaks and several other copycat sites that have sprung up.

"Our ideology is that the EU can be a huge cause for good, but people rightly distrust it because so much appears to happen behind closed doors," a Brussels Leaks contact said in an email to EUobserver. "By drawing attention to this and its failings, we hope the EU institutions will work to improve their transparency and ensure the voice of the citizen is clearly heard over that of industry, which currently holds far too much sway in Brussels."

The site says it is planning to release its first batch of papers in the transport and energy sector soon.

"In terms of submissions, we have already had a few via the Web site which is a good sign," the Brussels Leaks contact said.