Most of us became aware of Wikileaks in 2010, when Chelsea Manning posted classified documents revealing misdoings by the U.S. government in Iraq and Afghanistan. At the time the site, and founder Julian Assange, were heralded as whistleblowers helping to keep the world honest.

The reaction was much the same when Wikileaks posted documents obtained by Edward Snowden. But more recently, Assange's actions have proven less altruistic.

While the release of DNC emails mocking Bernie Sanders helped expose possible favoritism in the party, it's troubling the information came from Russian hackers, who have their own agenda. And the absence of any documents relating to Republican workings seems odd. (Are we to believe the GOP simply has no dirty laundry to air?)

Now WikiLeaks is under fire for publishing data from the Saudi government that outs gay men and puts them in grave danger.

In a raw data dump, Wikileaks posted thousands of documents carrying personal information, including details about at least one Saudi man with a conviction for homosexuality, and others who are HIV-positive.

When it comes to LGBT rights, Saudi Arabia is among the world's worst regimes: Homosexuality is punishable by jail time, flogging or even capital punishment.

According to the AP, the accounts also identify litigants in a paternity suit, patients with psychiatric disorders and young victims of sexual assault.

Ironically, Assange has been avoiding sexual assault charges himself—hiding out in the Ecuadorian Embassy in England to avoid extradition to Sweden.

"This is a disaster," said a disabled woman who went into debt to support a sick relative. “What if my brothers, neighbors, people I know—or even don’t know—have seen it? What is the use of publishing my story?”

Previously, Assange insisted the release of more than 100 Saudi diplomatic cables "lift[s] the lid on an increasingly erratic and secretive dictatorship that has... become a menace to its neighbors and itself."

But it would seem the collateral damage is greater than any effect it will have on the regime.

h/t: Pink News