Misguided debates around the Espionage Act have led to a flood of misinformation about what the often-abused law actually does in practice. Left unchecked, it will have a lasting effect on important reform efforts.
For years, DOJ has abused the Espionage Act against whistleblowers and journalists. A new bill could potentially change that.
In a Supreme Court term packed with controversial cases, one of the more-overlooked rulings has alarmed press freedom advocates as it gutted the legal mechanism used to hold federal officers liable for violating individuals’ constitutional rights.
Regardless of your feelings on Assange, the U.S. indictment against him will criminalize common newsgathering practices used by countless journalists.
Police have used the aftermath of mass shootings to restrict press access and threaten arrest of journalists on the ground, according to recent reporting by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. In each of those cities, as tragedy unfolded and reporters began working, they have faced unnecessary hurdles erected by law enforcement and public officials.
We’ve repeatedly argued that legislation is necessary to resolve questions about when the Department of Justice media guidelines apply and to provide accountability in case of violations. So, what kind of accountability is there now?
With a reporter surveillance scandal of its own embroiling Biden’s Department of Justice, it’s now more important than ever for his administration to throw its weight behind passing a journalist shield law such as Senator Ron Wyden’s PRESS Act.
In the week since Politico dropped its blockbuster reporting on a draft Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the floodgates of leaks have opened. That’s a good thing.
The Los Angeles County sheriff’s public threat of retaliatory investigation into a reporter is an outrageous press freedom violation, and Freedom of the Press Foundation has joined over two dozen groups last week in a letter condemning that action.
New York City Hall is out of line in demanding information about the criminal backgrounds and open cases of journalists applying for press credentials.
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