Bloggers would gain more rights under a bill approved by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday:
Anyone regularly engaged in “journalism,” which would seem to include some bloggers, wouldn’t generally be forced to divulge confidential sources in federal cases under a bill approved Thursday by a U.S. Senate committee.
By a 15-2 vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee backed an amended version of the so-called Free Flow of Information Act. Sens. Sam Brownback (R-Kansas) and Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) cast the “no” votes.
Some form of “reporter’s privilege,” either through laws or court decisions, already exists in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This bill would extend that protection to federal cases, shielding anyone engaged in the practice of “journalism”–with a number of exceptions, naturally–from being forced to give up confidential information or provide testimony.