In 2015, following the murders of high-profile reporters James Foley and Steven J. Sotloff by the Islamic State, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a report showing that journalists were facing more acute threats than they had in decades.
Between growing censorship from political regimes around the world, and a spike in violence from violent criminal gangs in Latin America, journalists’ rigorous investigations and fearless reporting have put them in the cross-hairs of powerful groups and individuals. Even reporters whose actual lives are not being threatened are increasingly finding themselves the victims of online smear campaigns and vitriCAMPolic attacks, simply for doing their jobs.
A New Era Of Threats For Journalists
While the rise in violence against the media has various and complex causes, it cannot be denied that journalists face greater dangers now than they have in a generation. In order to do their work effectively, journalists need to be extremely careful about the tools and methods they use in cultivating sources, filing stories, and covering their tracks.
Especially when reporting from abroad, reporters need to assume that hostile third parties have access to every email and every file they send. This is why journalists who want to ensure that they can protect their sources and avoid leaking sensitive information before press time need to invest in the latest secure messaging technology to guarantee the highest standards of cyber security.
In an effort to stay ahead of the latest spyware and hacking threats, encryption software is becoming more sophisticated every year. The most recent advancements, like ChatMail Secure’s proprietary CAMP protocol, provide journalists with a wider range of applications while making their messages impenetrable to third parties. This means they can get the story in a way that is safe for them and safe for their sources.
How CAMP Is Helping Journalists
There are two things that truly distinguish the CAMP protocol from other, less advanced forms of encryption. The first is a new kind of encryption that blends standard PGP encryption with Elliptical Curve Cryptography to create a protocol that can interact with a wide range of interlocutors, but which can also use the most complex forms of encryption available when interacting with other CAMP-equipped users.
The second is improved functionality, which is made possible by an integrated interface that allows users to send encrypted chat messages, voice messages, and images. With the latest version of the CAMP software, users can even engage in encrypted group chats, and can opt to make these chats anonymous, so only the moderator knows the identities of everyone involved. This is ideal for journalists, who may need sources to interact with each other without giving away anyone’s real name.
Journalist Must be Vigilant About Protecting Themselves
In the three years since the Committee to Protect Journalists issued their report, things have only become more dangerous for reporters at home and abroad. Journalists covering Donald Trump’s administration have needed to be extremely careful about how they cultivate and work with sources, as the president himself has voiced outright hostility toward the mainstream media.
Reporters who want to protect themselves and their sources need to exercise the utmost caution in their day-to-day lives and work, and for many, the only truly reliable way to guarantee secure end-to-end communications has been sophisticated encryption software from the most cutting-edge providers.
