Five years after Assange’s UK imprisonment, his prosecution still threatens press freedom
Espionage Act charges against Assange would criminalize journalism, no matter how often the government calls him a hacker
Inside the Assange court hearing and why the case threatens press freedom
Discussion highlights implications of Assange prosecution for journalism in US and globally
UK grants Assange another hearing, avoids press freedom catastrophe — for now
Quote on press freedom impact of today's Assange decision
‘Spy draft’ bill threatens press freedom
The Senate is dangerously close to passing a bill that would allow intelligence agencies to essentially “institute a spy draft” and order everyone from dentists to plumbers to surveil their patients and customers’ communications. The RISAA would also allow the government to order commercial landlords who rent space to media outlets, or contractors who service newsrooms, to help it spy on American journalists’ communications with foreign sources.
‘Imperative’ to pass PRESS Act
Veteran journalist Catherine Herridge threw her full support behind the PRESS Act, the federal bill to put an end to surveillance and subpoenas to force journalists to out their sources, during Congressional testimony on April 11, 2024.
Stop arresting journalists
Just a few months into 2024, the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker has documented four arrests or detentions of journalists covering protests in New York, Tennessee, and California. These arrests violate journalists’ rights, and they undermine the right of the public to learn about newsworthy events happening in their communities. They also show the disturbing and stubborn persistence of a system of policing that either doesn’t know or doesn’t care about First Amendment rights.
UK grants Assange another hearing
On Tuesday, the High Court in London granted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange another hearing on his extradition to the United States, averting — at least temporarily — a press freedom catastrophe. While we’re glad that Assange isn’t being immediately extradited, the threat to journalists from the Espionage Act charges against him remains.
Tim Burke is a journalist. His prosecution tries to criminalize journalism
President Biden has said that journalism isn’t a crime. But the DOJ seems to think otherwise
Publishing government secrets shouldn’t be illegal
The DOJ must end the Assange case before it turns journalists into criminals
Law professors to DOJ: Drop Assange prosecution
Letter from legal scholars explains how prosecuting Julian Assange threatens press freedom