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The Freedom of the Press Foundation: Defending Journalism in the Digital Age

Founded in 2012, the Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) is a nonprofit organization that works at the intersection of journalism, technology, and civil liberties. Its mission is to protect, defend, and empower public interest journalism in the 21st century, with a particular focus on press freedom, government transparency, and the rights of whistleblowers.


In an era of mass surveillance, aggressive prosecutions of leakers, and declining protections for journalists worldwide, FPF has emerged as one of the most innovative and tech-forward defenders of press freedom.



Origins: A Response to the Crackdown on Transparency


The Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) was founded in 2012, amid a rapidly escalating climate of hostility toward transparency and investigative journalism, particularly where it intersected with national security reporting. The organization was born in direct response to the financial blacklisting of WikiLeaks following its release of U.S. diplomatic cables and war logs from Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010. Despite not being charged with a crime, WikiLeaks was cut off by major payment processors, including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal, following political pressure from U.S. officials. This sparked a broader concern: if governments and corporations could effectively defund independent journalism by proxy, the press’s ability to inform the public would be dangerously undermined.


To counter this, the Freedom of the Press Foundation launched as a secure crowdfunding platform, allowing the public to continue financially supporting outlets that were being punished for publishing inconvenient truths. It became a mechanism not just for funneling donations to WikiLeaks, but also to other transparency-driven organizations, including the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, MuckRock, and Truthout.


The founding board reflected the gravity and urgency of its mission. It included:


  • Daniel Ellsberg, famed Pentagon Papers whistleblower whose 1971 disclosures exposed government deception about the Vietnam War and led to a historic press freedom case (New York Times Co. v. United States, 1971).


  • Laura Poitras and Glenn Greenwald, who played pivotal roles in the 2013 publication of Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks, revealing widespread government surveillance.


  • Trevor Timm, a digital rights advocate who became FPF’s founding executive director and a leading voice on encryption, whistleblower protection, and media policy.


In the years since, the Foundation has expanded dramatically, responding to evolving threats in an age defined by surveillance, digital censorship, and politicized attacks on the media. Its current work spans:


  • Open-source technology, including the development and maintenance of SecureDrop, a secure whistleblower platform used by newsrooms around the world


  • Digital security trainings for journalists, especially those working in high-risk environments or covering politically sensitive issues


  • Legal advocacy, including FOIA litigation, amicus briefs, and public campaigns against government secrecy and surveillance overreach


  • Monitoring press freedom violations, including the arrest and harassment of journalists during protests, such as those that occurred nationwide following the 2020 murder of George Floyd


FPF has emerged as a vital infrastructure for independent journalism in the 21st century, standing at the intersection of transparency, technology, and civil liberties. At a time when both journalists and sources face legal threats, surveillance, and financial censorship, the Freedom of the Press Foundation has positioned itself not just as a defender of the press, but as an architect of its resilience.



Key Programs and Areas of Work


SecureDrop: A Safe Channel for Whistleblowers


Perhaps the Freedom of the Press Foundation’s most well-known project is SecureDrop, an open-source whistleblower submission system created by the late Aaron Swartz and journalist Kevin Poulsen.


SecureDrop enables news organizations to receive documents and communications from anonymous sources with end-to-end encryption, reducing the risk of surveillance or retaliation. The software is now used by major outlets worldwide, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and The Guardian.


FPF maintains and develops SecureDrop, offering technical support and installation guidance to partner newsrooms.


Digital Security Training


FPF provides digital security education to journalists, newsroom staff, and non-profit media organizations. In a climate where reporters are increasingly subject to hacking, phishing, and surveillance, the Foundation offers training on:


  • Encryption tools


  • Secure communications


  • Protecting sources


  • Safe international reporting practices


Their team conducts both in-person and virtual workshops, and they’ve worked with journalists in the U.S. and abroad, including those reporting under authoritarian regimes.


Advocacy and Legal Policy


The Foundation is an outspoken advocate for policies that protect journalistic rights and promote government transparency. Its advocacy work includes:


  • Opposing the prosecution of whistleblowers and journalists under the Espionage Act


  • Defending encryption and privacy tools against government restrictions


  • Calling for greater accountability in surveillance programs


  • Pushing for stronger shield laws and legal protections for reporters


FPF is frequently involved in coalition work with other civil liberties and press organizations, submitting amicus briefs in significant court cases and testifying before government bodies.


Journalism Support and Public Education


Beyond its technical and legal efforts, the Foundation publishes in-depth reporting and analysis on press freedom issues, often focusing on topics that lack sustained mainstream coverage. These include:


  • Government efforts to weaken encryption


  • Legal threats to journalists covering protests or national security


  • International attacks on press freedom


  • The evolving challenges faced by freelance reporters and nonprofit newsrooms


The organization also supports independent investigative journalism through grants, partnerships, and fundraising initiatives.




Response to the Modern Media Landscape


The Freedom of the Press Foundation operates in a rapidly shifting media environment. As traditional newsroom resources shrink and digital threats expand, the need for structural support, technical tools, and policy protections for journalists has never been greater.

FPF has positioned itself as a vital infrastructure provider in this new reality, particularly for independent, nonprofit, and under-resourced journalism outlets.


It also plays a crucial role in defending the press in moments of crisis. During protest movements, political upheaval, or leak-related investigations, FPF often steps in to provide legal and technical assistance to journalists under threat.



Leadership and Governance


The organization is led by a team of legal experts, technologists, and journalists. Its board has included prominent figures like Edward Snowden and has collaborated with advisors from the worlds of media, cybersecurity, and civil liberties.


FPF maintains its independence by refusing government funding and maintaining transparency in its financial practices. Its support comes primarily from foundations, individual donors, and partnerships with media organizations.



The Freedom of the Press Foundation plays a vital role in safeguarding journalism in an era where the threats are no longer just legal—they’re digital, systemic, and often invisible. From developing secure platforms like SecureDrop that protect anonymous sources, to training journalists in encryption and counter-surveillance techniques, FPF operates at the front lines of modern press freedom. Its advocacy work has helped expose surveillance overreach, challenge government secrecy, and defend those who risk their careers—and sometimes their lives—to inform the public.


At a time when financial blacklisting, data breaches, and spyware are being used to intimidate and silence reporters, the Freedom of the Press Foundation provides not just support, but infrastructure. It reminds us that defending the press today requires technical resilience, legal preparedness, and public solidarity.


Because without the tools to report securely, the right to report freely is only theoretical.

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