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You have my Signal, and my Proton Mail, and my ax

Amid Donald Trump’s multiple lawsuits targeting media organizations, as well as the appointment of cabinet picks who have signaled hostility toward the press, some media outfits are preparing a variety of defenses — including stronger digital security practices. Highlighting both national and smaller media outlets, The New York Times says journalists are turning to tools for encrypted conversations “to help shield themselves and their sources from potential federal leak investigations and subpoenas.” 

What you can do

  • Deciding what communication tools to use really does depend on your risk assessment. Who are you talking to, what do they use, what kind of concerns do they have, and what’s practical? There are other considerations, too. Most reporting, as well as internal and external conversations, are not terribly sensitive. But for the cases where you wouldn’t want something read into a court record, we do think it’s important to take stock of what kind of information you’re storing in cloud service providers like Google, Apple, Amazon, and others, as well as services you use to communicate, such as Slack. Coming up with proportionate ways to respond depends on turning abstract thinking about risk into actionable steps. Read our guide to digital security risk assessment to get started. 
  • The Times reports that U.S. journalists are turning to Signal, Proton Mail, and other tools for more private channels to have conversations. If you’re interested in getting started with some of these tools, check out our guides to secure communication. We also offer resources on source protection.
  • There are a lot of considerations here. We’re always happy to talk to freelancers and organizations in need of digital security assistance about your specific needs. Reach out to our team.

Updates from our team

  • Our intern Kevin Pham wrote a piece that digs into some of the fearful rhetoric around the Tor anonymity network, and why you may want to use it anyway! Check it out.

Stay safe and secure out there.

Best,
Martin

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Martin Shelton
Deputy Director of Digital Security
Freedom of the Press Foundation