Chelsea Manning gained international attention as a whistleblower when she leaked nearly a quarter of a million classified and sensitive documents to WikiLeaks, revealing the reality of American military operations in Iraq. Manning, who served as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, had access to classified databases and decided to disclose what she saw as discrepancies between public narratives and the truth on the ground.
Her actions led to her arrest in 2010 and subsequent charges, including the severe offense of aiding the enemy, which could have carried a death sentence. Ultimately, Manning was sentenced to a lengthy prison term, but her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama after she had spent about seven years incarcerated. During her time in prison, Manning underwent a gender transition from male to female, despite being held in an all-male facility.
Since her release, Manning has remained active in various endeavors. In 2018, she challenged incumbent Senator Ben Cardin for the Democratic nomination in Maryland’s Senate election but was not successful. Manning’s skills and insights into information security led her to work with NYM Technologies SA, a cryptocurrency startup, where she conducted an information security audit.
Adding to her diverse pursuits, Manning penned her memoir titled *ReadMe.txt*, released in 2022, offering a firsthand account of her experiences and motivations. She also engages in speaking engagements, particularly advocating for transgender rights and activism, speaking at prestigious institutions like the Rhodes Trust and Harvard Kennedy School.
In 2022, Manning made headlines again for her personal life when she was romantically linked with singer-songwriter Grimes following her split from Elon Musk. However, their relationship has since ended, with Grimes announcing a new relationship in 2024.
As Manning continues to navigate her post-whistleblowing life, she remains a polarizing figure, both celebrated for her transparency and criticized for her methods. Her journey reflects a complex intersection of activism, technology, and personal transformation, shaping conversations on transparency, security, and civil liberties in the digital age.
