Incidents: secrets and espionage laws in North America, outcome upheld by a court
Each incident is a dated action by a government, an official, a regulator, a court or a legislature that limited journalists' ability to gather or publish news.
The number of entries reflects the depth of this record, not the severity of a country's conduct.
4 incidents match this view.
Country: United States, RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180
Continent: North America
Tactic: Secrets and espionage laws (4) Shutdowns and blocking (2) Surveillance and subpoenas (1)
Stage: Punish (2) Silence (2)
Outcome: Upheld by a court (4)
Level: National (4)
Head of government: Barack Obama George W. Bush Woodrow Wilson
| Date | Incident | Country | Tactic | Head of government | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 25, 2013 | United States prosecutes former CIA officer John Kiriakou under the Espionage Act for identifying a covert colleague to a journalist | United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180) | Secrets and espionage laws | Barack Obama | Upheld by a court (February 3, 2015) |
| July 6, 2005 | New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed for refusing to name a confidential source in the Valerie Plame affair | United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180) | Surveillance and subpoenas | George W. Bush | Upheld by a court (September 29, 2005) |
| July 1917 | United States postmaster bars the magazine The Masses from the mail under the Espionage Act | United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180) | Secrets and espionage laws | Woodrow Wilson | Upheld by a court (November 1, 1917) |
| 1917 | United States Postmaster General Burleson strips the Milwaukee Leader of its mailing rate | United States (RSF 2026 rank: 64th of 180) | Shutdowns and blocking | Woodrow Wilson | Upheld by a court (March 7, 1921) |
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