TED: How free is our freedom of the press? | Trevor Timm

The video discusses James Risen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and his exposure of NSA wiretapping and a CIA operation involving Iran. It highlights the government's investigation into Risen and the challenges faced by journalists in protecting their sources. The video emphasizes the importance of press freedom and the role of technology, like SecureDrop, in safeguarding whistleblowers. It calls for continued efforts to protect journalists and whistleblowers in the face of government surveillance.

Who is James Risen and what significant issue did he expose in his book?

• A CIA agent who revealed military secrets

• A journalist who exposed NSA's illegal wiretapping

• A government official who leaked financial data

• A whistleblower who uncovered environmental crimes

What was the US government's reaction to Risen's revelations?

• They awarded him a medal for bravery

• They ignored his findings

• They investigated him for nearly a decade

• They supported his journalistic efforts

How did electronic surveillance impact Risen's legal challenges?

• It made it easier for him to gather evidence

• It allowed the government to access his personal records

• It prevented the government from prosecuting him

• It had no impact on his case

What was the outcome of the government's investigation into Risen?

• He fled the country to avoid prosecution

• He was convicted and imprisoned

• The government dropped their demands before the trial

• He testified against his source

What trend did the Obama administration set regarding whistleblower prosecution?

• They protected more whistleblowers than any other administration

• They prosecuted more whistleblowers than all previous administrations combined

• They ignored whistleblower cases

• They only prosecuted whistleblowers in financial sectors

What is SecureDrop and how does it help journalists?

• A software for editing news articles

• A platform for journalists to publish stories anonymously

• A government tool for monitoring journalists

• A secure communication tool for whistleblowers to contact journalists

Why is it important to protect whistleblowers in various sectors?

• To limit their access to sensitive information

• To encourage them to work for the government

• To ensure they can expose wrongdoing without fear of retribution

• To prevent them from leaking information