Vazados

Vazados is a term used in Portuguese-speaking contexts, and to a lesser extent in Spanish-language discourse, to describe information, documents, messages, or data that have been disclosed without authorization. In everyday usage, vazados are materials that have been revealed to the public through media outlets, whistleblowers, cyber incidents, or other unofficial channels. The plural vazados typically refers to multiple leaked items, while the adjective vazado describes content that has been leaked.

Etymology and meaning: The word derives from the verb vazar, meaning to leak or to let flow out. Vazado or vazados functions as a participial form indicating that something has been leaked. The term emphasizes the unauthorized and public exposure of the material.

Usage and contexts: Vazamentos are common in political, corporate, and investigative journalism contexts. They can involve emails, confidential documents, recordings, or datasets. The label vazado draws attention to the upstream event of release and the perceived breach of confidentiality. In Portuguese-language media, vazados are often contrasted with officially released information, highlighting questions of provenance, verification, and impact.

Legal and ethical considerations: Handling vazados engages debates over privacy, data protection, national security, and source protection. Journalistic ethics typically stress verification, context, and minimization of harm, while discussions about leaks also consider legality and the responsibilities of publishers and custodians of information.

See also: Leaks, data breach, whistleblowing, investigative journalism, information security.