Government Surveillance Is Making Journalism Harder

U.S. government surveillance is hampering U.S.-based journalists and lawyers in their work and is having a chilling effect on journalists who cover national security, intelligence, and law enforcement, according to Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union. Alex Sinha talks about his report “With Liberty to Monitor All: How Large-Scale US Surveillance is Harming Journalism, Law, and American Democracy,” which is based on extensive interviews with dozens of journalists, lawyers, and senior U.S. government officials, and documents how journalists and lawyers are modifying their practices to keep communications, sources, and other confidential information secure in light of revelations of government surveillance of electronic communications and transactions.