The decline from its position at No. 20 in 2009 has been spurred by the Obama administration’s aggressive prosecution of whistleblowers, said Delphine Halgand, the organization’s U.S. director.
“We consider that the Obama administration has launched a war against whistleblowers,” Halgand said. “This year is a continuation of the concern we already expressed that national security protection has been more and more threatening freedom of information in the U.S.”
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The U.S. could again climb the rankings if it pulls back on its aggressive tack on leaks and if Congress passes a strong federal shield law, which would protect reporters’ rights to not reveal their sources without fearing prosecution.
Most states have some type of shield law, but there is still no shield law to protect journalists in federal cases.
