Recently, the issue of what to do with the files of an aging journalist going into a full-time care facility came up — should they be donated to a university library or similar institution?
As that question was being debated among friends of the journalist, one raised a related, far thornier question to me on the side:
How could we collectively protect the identity of the journalist’s confidential sources once the files became publicly available? This journalist had specialized in highly controversial stories and had relied on confidential sources extensively.
After all, the promise of confidentiality in such cases is theoretically permanent, or at least as long as disclosure could cause harm to the sources or their families.
Some journalists say that once a confidential source passes away, the promise no longer applies so they can disclose the identity. But what about the case when it’s the journalist who dies first or becomes incapacitated?
Disclosing their sources’ identities might still cause harm.
Throughout my career, I frequently dealt with confidential sources, my own or those of reporters that worked with or for me. We followed strict protocols for how we used confidential information, including taking measures to protect the identities of the sources.
But rarely did we consider the long-term implications. The recent case described above caused me to re-examine the issue and I have to say I don’t yet have a definitive answer.
This is simply a use case that slipped through the cracks, I’m afraid. Which is another way of saying I’m open to suggestions.
But of one thing I’m sure. Expunging all of your records of any traces of your confidential sources is an option. It’s just that that too might have unforeseen consequences.
LINKS:
The latest on Hunter Biden's plea deal for tax crimes (CNN)
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Putin’s Paranoia Has Turned on Russia’s Far Right (Foreign Policy)
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The Case for a Hard Break With China (Foreign Affairs)
The ways to predict a Chinese invasion of Taiwan long before troops take up arms (Economist)
Japan’s population drops by nearly 800,000 with falls in every prefecture for the first time (Guardian)
London jury acquits Kevin Spacey of sexual assault charges (AP)
Ukraine war is spurring a revolution in drone warfare using artificial intelligence (WP)
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The war in Ukraine is spurring a revolution in drone warfare using AI (WP)
Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and startup form body to regulate AI development (Guardian)
Will Biden’s Meetings with A.I. Companies Make Any Difference? (New Yorker)
Search engines, ChatGPT, and other AI tools wouldn’t function without an army of contractors. Now those workers say they’re underpaid and mistreated. (Atlantic)
From Factories to Film Sets, AI Has a Simple Goal (Bloomberg)
Meta’s Open Source Llama Upsets the AI Horse Race (Wired)
Pronouns for AI: Ethical and Security Considerations (Analytics Insight)
G/O Media’s disastrous use of AI is an affront to journalism — and society (MSNBC)
This Startup Wants to Create an AI-Generated CNN (Hollywood Reporter)
Generative AI and the future of work in America (Mckinsey)
ChatGPT creator says AI advocates are fooling themselves if they think the technology is only going to be good for workers: 'Jobs are definitely going to go away' (Business Insider)
AI Unlocks Olive Oil’s Potential in Alzheimer’s Battle (Neuroscience News)
Amazon wants Alexa to bring AI into the home (Axios)
AI is rewriting the rules of $200 billion games industry (Japan Times)
Google's new AI model generates music from your brain activity. Listen for yourself (ZDNet)
NYC subways join airports, police in using AI surveillance. Privacy experts are worried. (USA Today)
Next-Door Neighbors Have Somehow Come Home 14 Times Today (The Onion)
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