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Government Surveillance and Journalism: The Threat Landscape

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Featuring
Carlos Martinez de la Serna
Carlos Martinez de la Serna

Director of Programs, Committee to Protect Journalists

Allie Funk
Allie Funk

Technology and Democracy Initiative Lead, Freedom House

Harlo Holmes
Harlo Holmes

Chief Information Security Officer and Director of Digital Security, Free Press Foundation

Journalists have been the targets of government surveillance, harassment, and violence for over a century—both in America and abroad. Modern surveillance technologies—facial recognition, artificial intelligence, spyware, and more—make it increasingly easy for governments to track not only journalists but also their sources, putting both at risk.

How many journalists or news organizations have been negatively impacted by these developments? How is the journalism profession responding to these threats? What measures can democratic governments take to help protect journalists facing these perils? How has the resolution of the Julian Assange case affected the political, legal, and technological dynamics involved in protecting journalists and their sources? Our panel will tackle these and related questions.

This event is part of the 2024 Cato Surveillance Week series:

October 7, 2024

Federal Surveillance Reform: Achievements and Unfinished Business

Earlier this year, Congress reauthorized Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act for two years. The final bill included provisions sought by civil liberties advocates, but some critical reforms didn’t make it into the final version.

October 8, 2024

In the four years since nationwide protests against police misconduct rocked the nation, momentum for police reform has stalled.

October 10, 2024

Government Surveillance and Journalism: The Threat Landscape

Journalists have been the targets of government surveillance, harassment, and violence for over a century—both in America and abroad.

December 6, 2024 (rescheduled from October 9)

Human vs. Machine: The Promise and Peril of Artificial Intelligence in the Law Enforcement Context

The development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) software for a range of applications has sparked intense debate over its implications for privacy and surveillance in multiple contexts.