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![White House press secretary Josh Earnest , AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/usa_josh_earnest_ap.jpg)
Obama government needs to step up transparency and access to information
The government of President Barack Obama should provide greater access to public information and more transparency, and at the same time the United States justice system should stop using journalists as witnesses in criminal trials.
![Amy Goodman at a G8 protest in 2012, Steve Rhodes via flickr](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_goodman_g8_2012.jpg)
Is North Dakota out to intimidate media?
Mimicking a strategy used by despotic governments around the world, North Dakota charges journalist over footage of security guards using dogs and pepper spray to disperse Native American protestors.
![Link to: U.K. journalist should not be treated by the U.S. as a terrorist](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
U.K. journalist should not be treated by the U.S. as a terrorist
Karl Penhaul is a well-known and respected British journalist who was placed on the No-Fly List on or before January 2014 as a result of U.S. authorities’ misplaced suspicions generated by his work as a reporter and news contacts in Colombia.
![The headstone of Baby Hope bears her real name, Anjelica Castillo, on 14 October 2013, in the Bronx borough of New York, AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_baby_hope_ap.jpg)
New York court order to handover materials challenged
A “New York Times” reporter should not be forced to handover materials about her jailhouse interview with the suspect in the 1991 murder of a toddler, nearly 60 news media outlets, journalists’ associations and press freedom defenders argued.
![A women delivers a speech at the "Anything to Say?" statue in Berlin, Germany. The statue shows whistleblowers Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange and Edward Snowden., AP Photo/Michael Sohn](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_whistleblower_statue_ap.jpg)
The price U.S. whistleblowers pay for revealing secrets
Although the USA is considered to have relatively generous freedoms of speech, many whistleblowers are not afforded protection and are subjected to lengthy prison terms after disclosing classified information to the public.
![Link to: Lawsuit filed in U.S. challenges law restricting research and remixes](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Lawsuit filed in U.S. challenges law restricting research and remixes
The intent behind Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act was to create legal backing for the software that adds restrictions to “content” like music, movies, and books. However, with the introduction of software to everyday items like tractors and lightbulbs, it now hampers security research on these items.
![Link to: U.S. revised Law of War Manual recognizes role of independent journalists](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
U.S. revised Law of War Manual recognizes role of independent journalists
The Law of War Manual’s original language put most of the burden on the journalist to avoid behavior that could be construed as a hostile act. The revised language seems to put more of the burden on military commanders to distinguish between the journalistic and enemy activities.
![Police in riot gear block a street as hundreds of marchers take to the streets to protest against the recent fatal shootings of black men by police July 8, 2016, AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_phoenix_police.jpg)
Reporters covering #BlackLivesMatter arrested for “obstructing a highway”
Police in various US cities are getting increasingly creative when it comes to charging journalists.
![PEN International/PEN America](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_jacintohernandez_peninternational_cropped.jpg)
Journalist covering human trafficking murdered in Texas
Family of Fort Worth newspaper reporter believes there may be a connection between recent reporting and his murder.
![In this 7 June 2016 file photo, a sign separates members of the media from invited guests at Donald Trump's news conference at the Trump National Golf Club Westchester, N.Y., Photo/Mary Altaffer, File](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/usa_trump_media_conflict_ap.jpg)
Press institute blasts Donald Trump’s ongoing attacks on media
IPI blasted Donald Trump’s recent decision to deny credentials to the “Washington Post” to cover his campaign, saying his behaviour targeting critics in the media was inconsistent with American values.
![Link to: Peruvian newspaper facing huge fine for comments about public official](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Peruvian newspaper facing huge fine for comments about public official
The libel suit against editor Juan José Garrido and the newspaper Perú 21 seeks damages amounting to approximately US$230,000 payable to Félix Moreno Caballero, president of the Callao Regional Government.
![Link to: Why Trump’s insults of journalists must be taken seriously](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Why Trump’s insults of journalists must be taken seriously
Around the globe, public figures and political leaders who lob insults at the media and vilify journalists may score political points, but they also create a divisive environment ripe for attacks on press freedom.
![Link to: Victory: Battle against California smartphone anti-encryption bill is over](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Victory: Battle against California smartphone anti-encryption bill is over
The bill would have forced companies to dedicate resources to finding ways to defeat their own encryption or insert backdoors to facilitate decryption. As a result, the bill would have essentially prohibited companies from offering full disk encryption for their phones.
![Link to: FBI breaks into iPhone without Apple’s help](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
FBI breaks into iPhone without Apple’s help
The new method of accessing the iPhone raises questions about the government’s apparent use of security vulnerabilities in iOS and whether it will inform Apple about these vulnerabilities.
![Link to: Good news for now: Court postpones hearing in Apple v. FBI](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Good news for now: Court postpones hearing in Apple v. FBI
For now, the government is backing off its demand that Apple build a tool that will compromise the security of millions, contradicts Apple’s own beliefs, and is unsafe and unconstitutional.
![Jeso Carneiro via Flickr](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/whatsapp_screen_jeso_carneiro.jpg)
The next front in the new crypto wars: WhatsApp
According to the New York Times, the Department of Justice is locked in a “prolonged standoff” with WhatsApp. The story may represent a disturbing preview of the next front in the FBI’s war against encryption.