Scoops

We enjoy communicating information about many challenges topics. To share this information, we must work with people who are directly connected to the issues and who know what is really going on inside government and private institutions. That’s where you come in.

Do you disagree with what you are seeing around you at work, in government, at school?  Are new rules making you uncomfortable? Are you being asked to do something unethical? We want to see whatever evidence and documentation you can provide. Your employer, hackers and the government could potentially read your emails (or at least see that you contacted us). It’s probably easiest to contact us here. Need more privacy? If you’re concerned that being a source for a story poses a significant risk, take precautions:

Know your risks. No form of communication is totally safe from all observers. Make a plan about what you’ll do if the wrong person finds out you contacted us.

Do not contact us from your work computer or phone. Your bosses can track your use of these devices. The same goes for your personal mobile phone, if you’ve ever installed apps from your employer — even if you later uninstalled them.

Use your browser’s “incognito” or “private browsing” mode. Some sites (including, potentially, your employer’s) can access your browser history and see what websites you’ve visited. An incognito window may help mask this data. Open a new incognito browser window to contact us, and close it immediately afterward. If you don’t, your browser can display your online history to sites that ask for it.

Do not contact us during work hours. You could get into trouble if your employer found out.

If you are concerned you are under active surveillance, do not contact us from home and do not contact us from your regular phone. Public wifi hotspots can help keep you anonymous. Use the Tails operating system and Tor Browser. Start your Tails session immediately before contacting us, and close it immediately afterward. Do not tell others that you are a source, and do not contact us on social media.

If you email us documents, strip document metadata. Metadata can include evidence of where a document originated and who has handled it. Here is information about removal methods.

In many cases, our reporters or editors will eventually need to know your identity so we can verify and authenticate the information you provide to us. We understand the risks that sources may be taking, and can discuss with you any additional steps we can take to protect your anonymity. We will absolutely stand behind any agreement we may make to protect your identity. If you instead feel you must remain completely anonymous, we will ask you to provide us with sources or contacts who can corroborate the information you send us.