Across the Atlantic, press freedom is under pressure from both government coercion and commercial surveillance. In the United States, a federal judge had to intervene — for a second time — to stop the Pentagon from locking out journalists. Despite a prior court order barring the practice, the Defense Department continued to exclude “unfavorable” media representatives, prompting the judge to issue an even sharper rebuke.
Simultaneously, the Freedom of the Press Foundation warned that the so-called “data broker loophole” poses a growing threat to source protection and press freedom. Under this arrangement, government agencies bypass Fourth Amendment warrant requirements by simply purchasing Americans’ sensitive personal data from commercial brokers. Recent reporting on the use of data brokers for immigration enforcement has revealed just how invasive this commercially fueled surveillance has become. Legislation to close the loophole is expected to come before Congress soon.
