Making Tech Headlines · Page 9
Court tells government a journalist's inbox is not a networking event
· New York time
The Trump administration lost a court fight over access to journalists' LinkedIn direct messages. The court emphasized the importance of confidential sources to a free press in ruling on the dispute. Journalists have long relied on people willing to provide information privately. Those conversations can now occur on professional networking platforms as well as through older channels, but the interest in protecting sources remains important. A demand for private messages can affect more than the account holders. People who fear their communications may be exposed could be less willing to speak, with consequences for reporting that depends on confidentiality. LinkedIn encourages users to make professional connections, but a direct message is not the same thing as a public profile. The court recognized the significance of private conversations behind the networking page. The government sought access to the room marked messages; the ruling was a reminder that not every professional connection is an invitation to join the conversation.
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