Freedom of the Press Foundation

FCC Chair Brendan Carr's threat to revoke broadcast licenses over Iran war coverage violates the First Amendment, and he knows it. It’s up to the networks to fight back — aggressively and in court. Watch our Executive Director @TrevorTimm explain.

"It’s unfortunate that it took this long for the Pentagon’s ridiculous policy to be thrown in the trash," FPF's @SethAStern says. It’s shocking that DOJ lawyers "had the nerve to argue that journalists asking questions of the government is criminal." theguardian.com/us-news/2026/m…

Now that we are spending money and blood on yet another war based on constantly shifting pretexts, reporters should double down on their commitment to finding out what the DoD doesn't want the public to know rather than parroting ‘authorized’ narratives. cnn.com/2026/03/20/pol…

It’s shocking that this sweeping prior restraint was the official policy of our federal government and that Department of Justice lawyers had the nerve to argue that journalists asking questions of the government is criminal. Read our full statement: freedom.press/issues/amid-wa…

FCC Chair Brendan Carr's unprecedented policing of the public interest is an excuse to attack war reporting that displeases the government. FPF's Caitlin Vogus writes: theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

📩 Read in our weekly newsletter (and subscribe): - FCC Chair Brendan Carr seeks Iran-style media obedience - Tell Congress: Reform Section 702 - Trump’s massive, secret gov't database - Attorney discipline boards must step up - Plus, what we're reading...freedom.press/issues/fcc-cha…

Trump wants to put you in a massive, secret government database: Agencies are reportedly pooling immigration data, SSNs, and more into a central database. FPF is suing to learn how deep it goes. Read more from @LaurenLeHarper in @theintercept: theintercept.com/2026/03/17/gov…

Want to get loud about press freedom? Drop a hint with this handy safety whistle. Check out our shop for this and more: freedom-press-store.myshopify.com/products/safet…

The controversial law known as FISA Section 702 is up for renewal in Congress. It allows government to spy on Americans’ communications without a warrant. Use our action center to tell Congress to reform Section 702 and end mass warrantless surveillance! freedom.press/action/reform-…

Check out @EFF Executive Director (and longtime @FreedomofPress legal counsel) Cindy Cohn's new book, "Privacy's Defender," to learn about her 30-year fight against digital surveillance. Buy it here: eff.org/Privacys-Defen…

It's unconstitutional for the government to arbitrarily bar employees from talking to the press and public, so it goes without saying that it's unconstitutional to retaliate against news outlets that report on those unconstitutional restrictions. sfgate.com/national-parks…

The Ellisons are “willing to throw the economic interests of their news holdings under the bus if it boosts their other business before the Trump administration,” FPF’s Seth Stern tells @KPaoletta in @CJR. cjr.org/feature/cnn-mi…

This is a great way for journalists without the budget to sue to deal with FOIA stonewalling. Report the news you’re able to report and explain why the govt’s bad faith stopped you from reporting more. Don’t let them off the hook without public shaming. moniqueomadan.substack.com/p/i-asked-why-…

New York state has a chance to strengthen its Freedom of Information Law and be a bright spot amid rising authoritarianism and secrecy. That's why we're calling on the Legislature to pass four key transparency bills for Sunshine Week 2026. Read more: reinventalbany.org/2026/03/groups…

The administration "is on its way to creating every authoritarian’s dream: a centralized database containing intimate details about every resident of this country." We're suing for docs behind the database. FPF's @LaurenLeHarper has more in @theintercept:theintercept.com/2026/03/17/gov…

Journalists widely reported on the deposition videos of former DOGE staffers because they're important and newsworthy. Ordering them removed can't be squared with the First Amendment. The court must lift this unconstitutional prior restraint. abcnews.com/Politics/group…

The NSA illegally spied on Americans for years after Snowden blew the whistle, according to a FOIA release. This is why Section 702, a warrantless surveillance authority, needs reform. Time for Congress to protect our privacy. From @schwellenbach: pogo.org/investigates/d…

"Carr is using the same playbook against news outlets over their Iran war coverage because it’s worked before. And it will continue to work unless the media and lawmakers stand firm against him." @freedomofpress' Caitlin Vogus writes: theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

Law enforcement typically issues a warrant to telecom providers for access to customer location “tower dump” data. Now we have learned @CBP purchased location data based on ad IDs. Read more in our weekly digital security newsletter, and subscribe. freedom.press/digisec/blog/c…

🔔 Join @TheEIPAD for a conversation about the Trump administration's escalating attacks on the First Amendment, featuring @AttorneyNora, @JameelJaffer, and Ben Wizner, moderated by @LaurenLeHarper. 🗓️ Wednesday, March 25, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT RSVP: umass-amherst.zoom.us/webinar/regist…