TLDR;
This video from WatchMojo.com counts down the top 10 moments when the truth was revealed, exposing hidden agendas, corrupt systems, and shocking cover-ups. From Edward Snowden's global surveillance disclosures to the Watergate scandal, these events had a significant impact on society, sparking debates, fueling outrage, and leading to resignations and investigations.
- Edward Snowden's leaks exposed the extent of government surveillance.
- The Harvey Weinstein scandal ignited the #MeToo movement.
- The Watergate scandal led to President Nixon's resignation.
Edward Snowden and the Global Surveillance Disclosures [0:26]
In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked thousands of classified documents, revealing the agency's mass data collection programs, including the monitoring of phone records, emails, and even foreign leaders. These leaks exposed a surveillance state far more expansive than most Americans had imagined, sparking a global debate on privacy, security, and government overreach. Snowden fled the US for Russia and remains in exile, while the US government insisted its surveillance programs were legal.
Harvey Weinstein's Extensive Misconduct Allegations [1:56]
In 2017, decades of harassment, assault, and intimidation by Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein were exposed in reports by the New York Times and The New Yorker. The revelations shattered the code of silence in the entertainment industry and became the catalyst for the global #MeToo movement, empowering survivors to speak out against abuse in every corner of society. Audio evidence also surfaced, with Weinstein admitting to inappropriately touching an Italian model.
Chernobyl Disaster Coverup [3:23]
When reactor number four at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded in April 1986, the Soviet government attempted to cover up the extent of the disaster. The nearby city of Pryiet was evacuated, but the government initially downplayed the severity of the accident. The attempted cover-up unraveled as other countries detected radiation, fueling global outrage and deepening mistrust of the USSR.
Tuskegee Syphilis Study [4:59]
Beginning in 1932, the US Public Health Service conducted a study on the long-term effects of untreated syphilis in black men, under the guise of free healthcare. The government deliberately withheld diagnoses and treatment from 600 participants, even after penicillin became the standard cure. The experiment, conducted in partnership with Tuskegee University, lasted for 40 years until a whistleblower's leak to the press finally brought it to a halt.
Facebook Cambridge Analytica Data Scandal [6:53]
In 2018, it was revealed that data from millions of Facebook users had been harvested without consent by Cambridge Analytica and exploited for political targeting, including during the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit campaign. Facebook's role in enabling the breach led to congressional hearings and global backlash, raising concerns about the platform's influence on users' thoughts, votes, and beliefs.
Panama Papers [8:20]
The 2016 leak of the Panama Papers exposed a global system used to hide wealth and protect the powerful. The massive data dump from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca detailed how world leaders, celebrities, and billionaires used offshore accounts and shell companies to conceal assets and dodge taxes. The fallout included resignations, investigations, and worldwide outrage, revealing a rigged financial system shrouded in secrecy.
Mi Lai Massacre [9:54]
In March 1968, US soldiers massacred as many as 500 unarmed Vietnamese civilians in the village of My Lai. The army tried to bury the truth, but former soldier Ronald Ridenhour's persistent whistleblowing eventually brought the massacre to light in November 1969. The revelations ignited public outrage and further eroded support for the Vietnam War.
Iran Contra Affair [11:27]
The Iran-Contra affair involved senior officials in the Reagan administration selling arms to Iran and funneling the profits to Nicaraguan Contras, sidestepping congressional oversight. When the truth surfaced, it rocked the Reagan administration and shattered public trust. President Reagan took responsibility for the actions of his administration, though he claimed to be unaware of the full extent of the scheme.
Pentagon Papers [12:57]
In 1971, military analyst Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times, exposing decades of government deception about America's involvement in Vietnam. The documents revealed that successive administrations had misled Congress and the public, escalating a war they privately doubted could be won. Ellsberg was charged with theft and conspiracy but was ultimately acquitted.
Watergate Scandal [14:37]
The Watergate scandal involved President Richard Nixon and his team orchestrating an illegal surveillance operation against the Democratic National Committee and then attempting to cover up the evidence. Thanks to the reporting of Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the truth came to light, leading to Nixon's resignation and irreparably tarnishing his legacy.