If you read plenty of reports, you will see that many countries publish the CVR transcripts, including the U.S. Sometimes it is quite useful in helping to understand what happened, therefore it is increasing aviation safety.
I quite agree.
I also agree with the sentiment of others that to release the actual sound recordings may spiral much further then intended.
I don't understand what's going on here so maybe somebody can help me out.
From my read the ATC guys are trying to defend themselves by proving that a non authorized jumpseat rider was in the cockpit.
Typically in most other countries this would have been proven or disproved by the AAIB/TSB/NTSB/BEA written summary report of the CVR and that should be enough.
Is this what is now being requested?
I don't like the idea of releasing actual sound recordings for expert analysis not in the interests of preventing accidents