Along with Reporters Committee and OTI, we hosted a one-day conference on journalism and digital security last Friday in DC. The panels were full of many of the nation's best national security reporters, technologists and lawyers. The event was capped off by a surprise appearance via video by Edward Snowden, who shared his thoughts on how news organizations can better protect their sources from government surveillance. We've posted the videos to each of the panels to YouTube and you can watch them below.

Real-World Encryption Problems. This panel discussed current and future unsolved digital security problems in an age where sources have been investigated and prosecuted at record rates. Panelists include:

  • Dana Priest, investigative reporter, Washington Post 
  • James Risen, investigative reporter, New York Times 
  • Christopher Soghoian, principal technologist and senior policy analyst, ACLU
  • Julia Angwin, investigative reporter, ProPublica

Beyond PGP, Protecting Reporters on an Institutional Level. Beyond encrypting individual email, panelists look at the importance of utilizing the right systems company-wide to stave off hacking and other cyberattacks, as well as handing subpoenas and safeguarding sources. Panelists include:

  • Morgan Marquis-Boire, director of security, First Look Media
  • Jack Gillum, reporter, Associated Press
  • Nabiha Syed, associate, Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz
  • Xeni Jardin, editor, Boing Boing + Freedom of the Press Foundation
  • Marcia Hofmann, digital rights lawyer

Security Lessons from the Snowden Files. Journalists involved in reporting on the NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden talk about what they learned from the experience and how it might be handled better in the future. Panelists are:

  • Spencer Ackerman, U.S. national security editor, Guardian US
  • Siobhan Gorman, intelligence correspondent, Wall Street Journal
  • Micah Lee, technologist, The Intercept
  • Julie Tate, researcher and reporter, Washington Post
  • Lynn Oberlander, general counsel, First Look Media

A Conversation with Edward Snowden