The protection of sources is one of the foundations of a journalist’s work. Not surprisingly, it is the law itself that establishes a legal protection so that the journalist is allowed not to disclose his sources, even if he is on trial. Maintaining the delicate balance between freedom of the press and the need for justice, however, requires legal assessments and technical skills so as to avoid compromising any such fundamental rights. We will try, therefore, to outline the ideal process to achieve this balance, taking into account important laws, precedents and the most effective technical tools to use.

Organized in association with the Department of Legal Informatics of the University of Milan.