Electronic Frontier Foundation: The PRESS Act Will Protect Journalists When They Need It Most
The bill passed the House of Representatives on a voice vote on January 18. We need to send a strong message to the Senate that passing these protections must be an immediate priority.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism and Women Press Freedom stand firmly in agreement with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in their latest call to action relating to the Protect Reporters from Exploitive State Spying (PRESS) Act, H.R. 4250.
In an age where the essential role of journalism in safeguarding democracy is more apparent than ever, it is imperative that journalists are protected from unwarranted government surveillance and coercive attempts to reveal their confidential sources.
The PRESS Act represents a significant step towards ensuring the safety and freedom of journalists across the United States. This comprehensive federal shield bill, which has garnered bipartisan support, prohibits federal law enforcement agencies from intruding into the privacy of journalists by gathering their communication records. It establishes strict limits on the circumstances under which the government can compel journalists to disclose their sources.
The urgency of this legislation is evident in the regrettable history of abuses against journalists by multiple Presidential administrations. While states have varying levels of protection for journalists, federal law lacks adequate safeguards, undermining the core principles of a free press and access to information.
The PRESS Act not only addresses these gaps but also acknowledges the evolving digital landscape in which journalists operate, ensuring that both professional and citizen journalists are covered, regardless of their political leanings or medium of publication.
We echo the call to action by the EFF and other press and rights groups to urge Congress to swiftly pass the PRESS Act, recognizing that the vitality of our democracy depends on protecting the rights of those who seek to inform and empower us all.
The PRESS Act Will Protect Journalists When They Need It Most
Our government shouldn’t be spying on journalists. Nor should law enforcement agencies force journalists to identify their confidential sources or go to prison.
To fix this, we need to change the law. Now, we’ve got our best chance in years. The House of Representatives has passed the Protect Reporters from Exploitive State Spying (PRESS) Act, H.R. 4250, and it’s one of the strongest federal shield bills for journalists we’ve seen.
The PRESS Act would do two critical things: first, it would bar federal law enforcement from surveilling journalists by gathering their phone, messaging, or email records. Secondly, it strictly limits when the government can force a journalist to disclose their sources.
Since its introduction, the bill has had strong bipartisan support. And such “shield” laws for reporters have vast support across the U.S., with 49 states and the District of Columbia all having some type of law that prevents journalists from being forced to hand over their files to assist in criminal prosecutions, or even private lawsuits.
While journalists are well protected in many states, federal law is currently lacking in protections. That’s had serious consequences for journalists, and for all Americans’ right to freely access information.
Multiple Presidential Administrations Have Abused Laws To Spy On Journalists
The Congressional report on this bill details abuses against journalists by all of the past three Presidential administrations. Federal law enforcement officials improperly acquired reporters’ phone records on numerous occasions since 2004, under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
On at least 12 occasions since 1990, law enforcement threatened journalists with jail or home confinement for refusing to give up their sources; some reporters served months in jail.
Elected officials must do more about these abuses than preside over after-the-fact apologies.
PRESS Act Protections
The PRESS Act bars the federal government from surveilling journalists through their phones, email providers, or other online services. These digital protections are critical because they reflect how journalists operate in the field today. The bill restricts subpoenas aimed not just at the journalists themselves, but their phone and email providers. Its exceptions are narrow and targeted.
The PRESS Act also has an appropriately broad definition of the practice of journalism, covering both professional and citizen journalists. It applies regardless of a journalist’s political leanings or medium of publication.
The government surveillance of journalists over the years has chilled journalists’ ability to gather news. It’s also likely discouraged sources from coming forward, because their anonymity isn’t guaranteed. We can’t know the important stories that weren’t published, or weren’t published in time, because of fear of retaliation on the part of journalists or their sources.
In addition to EFF, the PRESS Act is supported by a wide range of press and rights groups, including the ACLU, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the First Amendment Coalition, the News Media Alliance, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and many others.
Our democracy relies on the rights of both professional journalists and everyday citizens to gather and publish information. The PRESS Act is a long overdue protection. We have sent Congress a clear message to pass it; please join us by sending your own email to the Senate using our links below.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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