For example, Smyth says, “You could bring your laptop to a university or a library and then you have an ISP [Internet service provider] that’s not traceable to you.” Verclas suggests encrypted communications service Silent Circle.
“Think of ways to ping sources that would be untraceable,” says Smyth. “Use a secure chat program to send a message to a source. If you need to tell your editor who your source is, walk across the room, don’t send an email.”
Yet while there are strategies that individual journalists can use to help protect their communications, many experts believe that there is an essential role for institutions to play as well.
“There needs to be a push in the newsroom to do really good trainings, so it’s not just self help,” says Verclas. “Newsrooms have a moral and ethical obligation to invest in this kind of stuff in a very professional, high quality way.”
Focusing only on security isn’t sufficient, says Rebecca MacKinnon, cofounder of Global Voices and author of Consent of the Networked.
“The Patriot Act needs to be reformed, FISA needs to be reformed, ECPA (the Electronic Communications Privacy Act) needs to be reformed,” MacKinnon says. “We need a legal system that actually holds the government accountable.”
In the meantime, she says, “You can start acting like you’re a journalist in China.”
Looking for training and resources to improve your own digital security? Global Journalist Security is offering two special classes on Digital Safety for National Security Reporters in July 2013 in Washington, DC.
Disclosure: CJR has received funding from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) to cover intellectual-property issues, but the organization has no influence on the content.
this is what silent circle says about its encryption keys and the feds:
13. If keys are escrowed, can they be disclosed to law enforcement?
Yes - check here. for our Law & Compliance policy.
If we are managing the keys, we can hand over the messages. We'd fight it, but we'd hand over the messages rather than the keys.
#1 Posted by ed moloney, CJR on Sat 8 Jun 2013 at 09:27 AM
You see how capitalism triumphs socialism every time: Here you are, advising journos how to find a better way to do their job. On their own. Without a program from the government's central planning department. In fact -- DESPITE the government's central planning intentions. Good morning, journos! Welcome aboard the reality track.
#2 Posted by Gennavette, CJR on Sun 9 Jun 2013 at 11:20 PM
op-sec is never painless or easy, is it? And as soon as you begin taking the usual measures to thwart the surveillance system, you thereby make yourself more conspicuous to that system.
#3 Posted by Edward Ericson Jr., CJR on Mon 10 Jun 2013 at 10:34 AM