ABSTRACT
The USA Freedom Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives in May 2015, reduces government bulk collection of US phone records. As UNESCO researchers noted: While the rapidly emerging digital environment offers great opportunities for journalists to investigate and report information in the public interest, it also poses particular challenges regarding the privacy and safety of journalistic sources. Duncan Campbell makes the proportionality point that it is unlikely that journalists or their sources will be under digital surveillance unless they are delving into very sensitive areas like national security. Shane said he had become more cautious but made the point that in the US it was not just Snowden's revelations that influenced journalists but the Obama administration's prosecution of journalist sources that had impacted on journalists. The post-Snowden world is a troubling place for investigative journalists, whistle-blowers, and sources.
