Paris , France ( CNN ) -- Last week Reporters Without Borders released a letter calling on WikiLeaks to take down the names of civilians identified as having collaborated with the International Security Assistance Force and with NATO forces . In our view making the names of Afghan civilians public could put them at risk of reprisals from the Taliban or other insurgent forces in Afghanistan . Some news reports and some pundits portrayed our statement as an unequivocal condemnation of WikiLeaks , but this is not the case . Reporters Without Borders supports the continued existence and work of WikiLeaks , and we are ready to take part in any discussion about the problems inherent in managing and disclosing vast amounts of critical information . But we also believe that to continue their work , WikiLeaks and other websites likely to publish documents from whistle-blowers need to ensure that the information disclosed does not pose an avoidable threat to the security of civilians . Pointing that out does not amount to , for example , support for the Pentagon 's request that WikiLeaks remove all documents from its website or a call for outright censorship . In fact , WikiLeaks has published useful information , and we hope it can continue to serve journalists and the wider public . We have spoken out strongly against the Pentagon 's request that WikiLeaks remove all documents from its website and against the detention of the alleged source of the leaks , Pfc . Bradley Manning . We 've also criticized proposed amendments to the federal shield law that would exclude whistle-blowing sites such as WikiLeaks from any legal protection of sources . We are not disputing the importance of the Afghan War Diary . Indeed , it is more important than ever that there be an outlet for information governments want to keep secret . Too often , government departments and agencies resort without justification to declaring documents classified or secret to conceal information that is of public interest . Exaggerated and at times unsubstantiated safety concerns have been used to block important information from being made public in the past . The Pentagon , the Bush and Obama administrations are no strangers to these tactics . Whistle-blowing sites deserve , and have , our support . However , the case of the war logs illustrates the difficulties that will arise when dealing with the sheer mass of information that may become available . Even the largest news organizations in the world would be overwhelmed , and -- for the moment at least -- WikiLeaks does not command resources of that scope . Julian Assange , the WikiLeaks editor-in-chief , has said that by reviewing the document classification system and certain parts of the material , his organization was able to identify and withhold 15,000 documents that possibly contain the names of innocent informers , and that is commendable . It does not change the fact that releasing so many documents without being able go through the large majority of them is problematic . Whistle-blowing websites need to deal with this issue if they want to avoid giving the authorities an excuse to muzzle them . We should note though , that through the good offices of The New York Times , WikiLeaks requested the help of the Obama White House in vetting the material , a request the White House denied . It is not beyond imagining that rather than cooperate in an attempt to protect its informers and collaborators , the U.S. government chose instead to keep all its tactical options open in its campaign against WikiLeaks . Indeed , Adm. Mike Mullen , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , was quick to say WikiLeaks would have blood on its hands , although he brought no evidence of that . WikiLeaks staff is under considerable pressure from Western governments , and alleged surveillance and rumors of extraditions have exacerbated a climate of apprehension within its day-to-day operations . It can not be easy working under such conditions . But if the media is to demand a high level of transparency in public affairs , they must also demonstrate a high level of responsibility . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jean-François Julliard .
Jean - Pierre Julliard says Reporters Without Borders needs whistle - blower protection . Julliard says journalists ' illegal document release can put civilians at risk . Press group has spoken against government censorship of Wikipedia , he says . France : WikLeaks must act responsibly to avoid giving authorities excuse to muzzle it .