[shagmin]

Chelsea Manning may be a better comparison since the US actually sentenced her, but even then that was about a leak with classified information rather than just punishing the press for being critical of the government. And she was arrested and served time (7 years?) and then got out, while coming out as transgendered (imagine going through that in Russian prison). It's not ideal, but it could be taken as an example of how much better it is in the US also.

[ashwagary]

Whistleblowers are not safe anymore, government abuse is being protected.

[smegger001]

Anymore? when were they ever safe? When has anyone in a position of power ever paid more than lip service to protecting whistle blower

[ComradePhil]

The facts that whistleblowers are as well-known as they are, shows that whistleblowers are safer than they have ever been in history.

[ashwagary]

This statement is fair but it only somewhat applies to a few famous whistleblowers.