Biden Administration

- The Latest
  Regular reporting on government secrecy, surveillance, and the rights of reporters and whistleblowers.
  - The Classifieds
  - News Releases
- Technology
  Working open source software products to protect journalists, newsrooms, and their sources.
  - SecureDrop
  - Dangerzone
- U.S. Press Freedom Tracker
  A database of press freedom incidents in the United States.
  - Data Visualizations
  - Explore the Database
- Digital Security Education
  Digital security trainings and resources for journalists.
  - Request a Training
  - Guides & Resources
- About Us
  Protecting and defending press freedom when we need it the most.
- Our Team
  - Staff & Contributors
  - Board of Directors
- Transparency
  - Reports & Financials
  - Announcements
- Get in Touch
  - Jobs & Internships
  - Contact Us
Take action
Donate

President Biden stands in the foreground wearing a blue suit with a stripped tie and holding a microphone. The American flag is in the background.

Joe Biden by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The Biden administration helped create a road map for criminalizing journalism.

Despite accomplishments such as freeing journalists Evan Gershkovich and Alsu Kurmasheva from Russia and strengthening internal government guidelines on legal demands to journalists, former President Joe Biden’s press freedom record was decidedly mixed.

Among other failures, Biden’s continued prosecution of Julian Assange under the Espionage Act helped create a road map to criminalize reporting; he routinely put exaggerated national security concerns over the First Amendment; and he allowed the Israeli military to kill journalists in Gaza without consequence from the U.S.

Featured Items

Biden administration is all talk when it comes to dead journalists
Biden•Article
Officials choose to look the other way rather than find out whether Israeli forces are targeting the press

Published Dec. 21, 2023 Seth Stern
Ten questions to ask US officials about attacks on journalists in Gaza
Global affairs•Article
The Biden administration has yet to meaningfully comment, let alone act, on the unprecedented journalist casualties in Gaza. That needs to change.

Published Nov. 20, 2023 Seth Stern
Press battles camera bans in Trump trials
Court access•Article
Despite ongoing efforts by the news media, most of Trump’s trials probably won’t be televised. That’s a shame

Published Nov. 8, 2023 Caitlin Vogus
It’s time to rein in Pegasus and halt spying on journalists
Surveillance•Article
The United States could do more to combat spyware used by governments to surveil the press

Published Sept. 19, 2023 Caitlin Vogus
PRESS Act would create a more informed public
PRESS Act•Article
Bipartisan sponsors should be commended for supporting press freedom

Published Aug. 7, 2023 Seth Stern
DOJ: Dispersing journalists from protests violates First Amendment
Protests•Article
Recent report marks welcome change from Justice’s past anti-press positions

Published June 29, 2023 Seth Stern
FPF statement on rejection of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal
Julian Assange•News Release
Assange's prosecution should be condemned by all who believe in press freedom

Published June 8, 2023 Freedom of the Press Foundation
Online speech cases fizzle at Supreme Court, but threats to journalists remain
Online Censorship•Article
Supreme Court kicks Section 230 can down the road

Published May 26, 2023 Caitlin Vogus
FTC overreaches by demanding Twitter identify journalists
PRESS Act•News Release
Potential for surveillance underscores need for federal shield law

Published March 8, 2023 Freedom of the Press Foundation
Global imprisonment of journalists spikes amid U.S. inaction
Global affairs•Article
Credible American leadership needed to curb disturbing trend.

Published Jan. 4, 2023 Seth Stern