WikiLeaks -- an online whistleblower group that releases hacked,  private government information for public review -- is being accused of homophobia after it published Saudi government data that outed at least one gay man.

 

Saudi Arabia is notoriously repressive when it comes to LGBT rights; individuals found guilty of engaging in same-sex activity face fines, flogging and, potentially, death. 

 

The man, who had been convicted for having gay sex, fears what his neighbors will think if they find out. Rape victims and individuals with HIV have also had their names, addresses and passport numbers exposed. Although the information was kept on government servers, the concern is that these people could face abuse or vigilante justice.

 

WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange (pictured) has spent years hiding in London’s Ecuadorian Embassy. He is afraid of being deported to Sweden where he still faces a rape charge; he said he wasn't afraid of facing a trial, but believed Sweden would send him to the US where he could face "politically motivated" charges.

 

In the past he has argued that "the Saudi Cables lift the lid on an increasingly erratic and secretive dictatorship that has not only celebrated its 100th beheading this year, but which has also become a menace to its neighbours and itself.”

 

WikiLeaks claimed that all of the criticism was unfounded, tweeting: "US big media scramble to side with presumptive winner #Clinton. We expect many more recycled attacks like AP's today as our leaks continue."

 

The leak runs counter to Assange's claims in 2011, when he told PBS that he wasn't interested in hurting people.

 

“We don’t want innocent people who have a decent chance of being hurt to be hurt," he said at the time.

 

Supporters are being forced to take a harder look at their "hero" Assange, and whether he is truly the white knight he claims to be.

 

He has promised to release e-mails in October that will help take down Hillary Clinton, one of his biggest targets. WikiLeaks has already released information about the Democratic Party that was gathered by Russian hackers. He's released nothing on Donald Trump or the Republican Party. It seems there is a bigger agenda at play here than he's willing to admit.

 

Private lives are exposed as WikiLeaks spills its secrets []