It is possible that intelligence agencies in a number of countries have already gained access to the data. “Any autocratic security service worth its salt” would have already done so, former US Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs P.J. Crowley told news agency AP on Wednesday. Intelligence agencies that haven’t already gotten their hands on the data “will have it in short order,” he added.

By Wednesday evening Crowley’s prediction was confirmed. The “Cablegate” cables are now completely public. For many people in totalitarian states this could prove life-threatening. For Wikileaks, OpenLeaks, Julian Assange, Daniel Domscheit-Berg and many others, it is nothing short of a catastrophe.

A chain of careless mistakes, coincidences, indiscretions and confusion now means that no potential whistleblower would feel comfortable turning to a leaking platform right now. They appear to be out of control.