Free Flow of Information Act: how problematic?

Last week the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Free Flow of Information Act, which prohibits a federal entity from compelling certain ‘covered parties’ to testify or reveal confidential information and sources. Introduced by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York), it grants privilege for ‘covered parties,’ with an exception for cases deemed to be critical to national security. It amounts to a federal media shield law similar to laws already adopted by 49 states.

Tracie Powell, founder of allDigitocracy, talks to Voice of Russia Radio about how this imperfect legislation is a valuable first step in protecting journalists and helping them fulfill their constitutional responsibility of keeping power in check. But the potential law also opens the door to allowing the government to define who is and is not a journalist, something anybody engaged in gathering, preparing and producing information for the public good should be concerned. Listen in.