Accusing WikiLeaks of theft of government documents, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that the online publication of secret cables by the whistle-blower website has endangered the lives of human rights activists across the globe.

"Without commenting on the authenticity of any particular documents, we can observe that many of the cables released by WikiLeaks relate to human rights work carried on around the world," Clinton said in her speech on internet freedom at the George Washington University.

"Our diplomats closely collaborate with activists, journalists, and citizens to challenge the misdeeds of oppressive governments. It is dangerous work. By publishing diplomatic cables, WikiLeaks exposed people to even greater risk," she said.

Noting that government confidentiality has been a topic of debate during the past few months because of WikiLeaks, she said but this been a false debate in many ways.

"Fundamentally, the WikiLeaks incident began with an act of theft. Government documents were stolen, just the same as if they had been smuggled out in a briefcase," she said.

"Some have suggested that this theft was justified because governments have a responsibility to conduct all of our work out in the open in the full view of our citizens. I respectfully disagree," Clinton said.

The US Secretary of State said that America could neither have provided its citizens' security nor promote the cause of human rights and democracy around the world if it had to make public every step of its efforts.

"Confidential communication gives our government the opportunity to do work that could not be done otherwise.

Consider our work with former Soviet states to secure loose nuclear material. By keeping the details confidential, we make it less likely that terrorists or criminals will find the nuclear material and steal it for their own purposes," Clinton argued.

Observing that confidentiality was essential especially in the internet age when dangerous information could be sent around the world with the click of a keystroke, she said "but of course, governments also have a duty to be transparent. We govern with the consent of the people, and that consent must be informed to be meaningful."

"We must be judicious about when we close off our work to the public, and we must review our standards frequently to make sure they are rigorous," she said. .