Trevor Timm: How free is our freedom of the press?

How free is our freedom of the press?

In the US, the press has a right to publish secret information the public needs to know, protected by the First Amendment. Government surveillance has made it increasingly more dangerous for whistleblowers, the source of virtually every important story about national security since 9/11, to share information. In this concise, informative talk, Freedom of the Press Foundation co-founder and TED Fellow Trevor Timm traces the recent history of government action against individuals who expose crime and injustice and advocates for technology that can help them do it safely and anonymously.

The right to publish secret information in the public interest is protected by the First Amendment, yet government surveillance puts whistleblowers and journalists at risk. After exposing both illegal wiretapping and a failed CIA operation, one reporter faced years under threat of prison while prosecutors secretly seized his digital records. Since 9/11, nearly every significant national security story has come from whistleblowers, but increased spying undermines their ability to safely share vital information. New technologies offer hope, allowing sources to stay anonymous and the press to defend its essential role.