Who is the founder of WikiLeaks, the website known for publishing leaked documents and confidential information from anonymous sources?

Introduction / Context:
In the digital age, platforms that publish leaked documents and confidential information have had a major impact on politics and public debate. WikiLeaks is one of the most famous of these organisations. General knowledge questions often test whether you can correctly identify the person who founded WikiLeaks, distinguishing him from other well-known technology and whistle-blowing figures.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked about the founder of WikiLeaks.
• WikiLeaks is known for publishing leaked and classified materials from anonymous sources.
• Options list Larry Sanger, Julian Assange, Edward Snowden, Tim Berners-Lee and Mark Zuckerberg.
• Only one of these individuals founded WikiLeaks.

Concept / Approach:
The core concept is to distinguish the roles of prominent internet-age personalities. Julian Assange is an Australian activist, journalist and computer programmer who founded WikiLeaks in the mid-2000s. Larry Sanger co-founded Wikipedia, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web, Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook, and Edward Snowden is a whistle-blower who leaked information to media but did not create WikiLeaks. Recognising these separate contributions avoids confusion.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Connect the name Julian Assange with WikiLeaks in your memory. He appears in news reports as the site’s founder and editor-in-chief. Step 2: Recall that Larry Sanger is linked with Wikipedia, a collaborative online encyclopedia, not a leak-publishing platform. Step 3: Remember that Edward Snowden is an ex-intelligence contractor who leaked documents to journalists, not the founder of WikiLeaks. Step 4: Note that Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web and Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook, unrelated to WikiLeaks. Step 5: Since only Julian Assange matches the description, mark his name as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick verification method is to think of images and headlines: stories about WikiLeaks, diplomatic cables, or legal cases usually show Julian Assange. By contrast, Snowden appears in a different context, related to NSA surveillance leaks via newspapers. Wikipedia and Facebook have entirely different logos and founders. This clear visual and contextual separation acts as a mental cross-check.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Larry Sanger: Co-founder of Wikipedia, not WikiLeaks.
Edward Snowden: A whistle-blower who leaked US surveillance documents, but not the creator of the WikiLeaks platform.
Tim Berners-Lee: Credited with inventing the World Wide Web; he is not associated with WikiLeaks.
Mark Zuckerberg: Co-founder of Facebook, a social networking site, unrelated to document leaks.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse Snowden with Assange because both names appear in discussions about leaked documents and government secrets. Another pitfall is to focus only on the “Wiki” prefix and mistakenly think of Wikipedia, leading them to pick Larry Sanger. The safest strategy is to remember one clear mapping: WikiLeaks → Julian Assange; Wikipedia → Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger; Facebook → Mark Zuckerberg.

Final Answer:
The founder of WikiLeaks is Julian Assange.