Journalist Safety

The digital security of publishers, journalists and their sources is under threat in many parts of the world. At the governmental level, policymakers must acknowledge the very real threats facing journalists specifically and ensure that digital policy initiatives both protect them and, in doing so, do not threaten free expression, basic privacy rights, or encryption and VPN protections. At the platform level, technology companies can establish and protect human rights and privacy safeguards, but they also must at times navigate challenging state demands (at times via legislation) to provide private data and information on their users, potentially permitting governments’ abuses of power. At the publisher level, proactive efforts around cyber education, safety and support, as well as sharing experiences within the industry, are equally critical. Finally, researchers and civil society need to do their part to collaboratively shed light and provide data on the trends, risks and potential avenues forward.