Washington:
The US government pledged Monday to steer clear of legal orders that force journalists to reveal their sources, with only uncommon exceptions, reversing course following revelations of secret efforts to get data from the media.
A statement from the agency stated it would no longer use the “compulsory legal process” like subpoenas or warrants to get records or determine sources from journalists involved in newsgathering activities.
The new policy comes following revelations that former president Donald Trump’s Justice Department secretly obtained phone records of journalists investigating his administration, inducing from CNN, the Washington Post and New York Times.
The statement stated the policy shift was made “because a free and independent press is vital to the functioning of our democracy.”
It stated the new policy applies to reporters, publishers, third-party service providers and other folks involved in newsgathering, and to physical or digital documents as effectively as phone records.
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the new policy in a memo and named for “a review process to further explain, develop and codify the policy.”
Monday’s announcement comes following news that the Trump administration sought records of journalists investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, though getting “gag orders” to preserve that work secret.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated last month that the use of such orders in leak investigations “is not consistent with the president’s policy direction.”
The Garland memo stated exceptions to the policy would be made if the journalist have been the topic of an investigation, or was suspected of getting a foreign agent or member of a terrorist group, or in circumstances of “imminent” danger of death or bodily harm.
While the circumstances involving the Trump administration have drawn scrutiny lately, the policy alter addresses a longstanding concern on press freedom and follows various circumstances exactly where journalists have been threatened with jail for refusing to reveal sources.
“The attorney general has taken a necessary and momentous step to protect press freedom at a critical time,” stated Bruce Brown, executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
“This historic new policy will ensure that journalists can do their job of informing the public without fear of federal government intrusion into their relationships with confidential sources.”
(This story has not been edited by TheSpuzz employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)