Protecting Journalists' Sources: Federal Limits on Compelled Information Disclosure.
This Act establishes federal limits on government entities and courts seeking to force journalists to disclose their sources or materials gathered during their work. The goal is to ensure the free flow of information to the public and protect investigative journalism. These protections can only be overridden in extremely narrow circumstances, such as preventing terrorism or imminent threats to life.
Key points
Journalists gain the right to protect their sources and work product from mandatory disclosure requested by federal authorities.
Technology and telecom companies cannot release journalists' data (including from personal accounts) without a court order, and only if there is a threat of imminent violence.
In most cases, the journalist must be notified of the attempt to obtain their data and be given an opportunity to be heard in court.
The protection does not apply if the journalist is suspected of committing a crime, being a foreign agent, or engaging in terrorism.
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