[yitianjian]

Agreed, but at this point even images and videos can be faked and doctored to a pretty high standard. Privacy of the leakers should be worth it IMO.

[eru]

Well, why release 'the meeting' in the first place then? If you recreate a deep fake, you might as well start from a transcript. Or leak a transcript.

Leakers need some fidelity to prove their credibility. But fidelity also identifies them.

[jessaustin]

The journalist, editor, or their lawyer might need something genuine to be comfortable publishing. If that journalist and editor have a good reputation, however, the general public shouldn't need that. "The Intercept" may not have that good reputation? They seem at least as trustworthy as the typical USA war media firm to me.

[eru]

Yes. But in that scenario, what's the value added compared to the journalist just publishing a transcript?