Biden’s press freedom legacy: Empty words and hypocrisy
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
-
Ten questions to ask US officials about attacks on journalists in Gaza
The Biden administration has yet to meaningfully comment, let alone act, on the unprecedented journalist casualties in Gaza. That needs to change.
-
Press battles camera bans in Trump trials
Despite ongoing efforts by the news media, most of Trump’s trials probably won’t be televised. That’s a shame
-
It’s time to rein in Pegasus and halt spying on journalists
The United States could do more to combat spyware used by governments to surveil the press
-
PRESS Act would create a more informed public
Bipartisan sponsors should be commended for supporting press freedom
-
DOJ: Dispersing journalists from protests violates First Amendment
Recent report marks welcome change from Justice’s past anti-press positions
-
FPF statement on rejection of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal
Assange's prosecution should be condemned by all who believe in press freedom
-
Online speech cases fizzle at Supreme Court, but threats to journalists remain
Supreme Court kicks Section 230 can down the road
-
FTC overreaches by demanding Twitter identify journalists
Potential for surveillance underscores need for federal shield law
-
Global imprisonment of journalists spikes amid U.S. inaction
Credible American leadership needed to curb disturbing trend.
-
Secret Justice Dept. subpoena drives home the need for a strong journalist shield law
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.
