It does not happen just once and then disappear. Let us not be confused. The storage of data, access to stored data, and understanding of that data are not fungible. Data alone are not science. Data in isolation, in fact, are fairly fragile.
Premature data are even more fragile.
Hence, the benefit of scientific inquiry is dependent on robust data. The dissemination of new knowledge is the vigorous defense of conclusions. Others have commented on the process by which scientists begin to discuss their data, the informal sharing of results among colleagues, posters and presentations, and professional meetings. Gordon conferences are an excellent example in which attendees sign a statement that they will not provide any public disclosure of the information. This is probably the best of opportunities for scientists to speculate on what is happening.