Encryption, Journalism, and Free Expression

We all use encryption every day
when we go online

It's also used by many journalists to
protect the identity of their sources

When lawmakers try to
villainize encryption

it really does a disservice
to the public debate

I think a lot of people think about
encryption in terms of privacy

but it's often the most useful
when we talking about free speech

The ability to speak freely to somebody
without another party interfering

Encrypted communications were key to
the 2013 reporting of NSA surveillance

The First Amendment or other rights
like it guaranteed in other countries

are really a safety valve for democracy

when everything else breaks down

this is how the public can still hold their
governments accountable

Increasingly, encryption is playing
a huge role

in upholding those free expression rights

Using tools like secure drop, anyone can submit a story
to a journalist and have their message encrypted.

One of the major projects we work on

is trying to teach and help journalists

learn how to use encryption tools

to better protect their sources

There are many people inside
the US Congress

and other governments
around the world

who have no understanding about how
important encryption is

not just to our privacy,
but to our security and our economy

By banning encryption, we're forcing
tech companies to insert back doors

We're putting all of ourselves at risk

We need to make sure that
our governments understand

that this is the case

Encryption helps make the internet work.
Everyone needs to help keep it strong.

Learn more at mal.la/encrypt