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Illegal leaking can be devastating to [[law enforcement]] and [[national security]] investigations. [[Bureaucracy|Bureacrat]]s sometimes use illegal leaks in so-called "CYA memos," colloquily known as "cover-your-butt" memos to create deniability or the appearance of exculpatory evidence for wrongdoing.

Illegal leaking can be devastating to [[law enforcement]] and [[national security]] investigations. [[Bureaucracy|Bureacrat]]s sometimes use illegal leaks in so-called "CYA memos," colloquily known as "cover-your-butt" memos to create deniability or the appearance of exculpatory evidence for wrongdoing.

Illegal leaks can be the bread and butter of a legitimate, respectable [[mainstream media|mainstream]] journalist. While the risk is all on the leaker, the reporter gets all the glory for digging out the scoop. Under the [[First Amendment]] the reporter can't be charged, but the leaker could be jailed. For this a strict confidentiality understanding between reporter and leaker is needed. Both convince themselves they are serving the greater good by informing the public about government abuse or corruption; just as often the duplicitous collusion between journalists and bureaucrats is used for [[partisan]] purposes to influence elections.

Illegal leaks can be the bread and butter of a legitimate, respectable [[mainstream media|mainstream]] journalist. While the risk is all on the leaker, the reporter gets all the glory for digging out the scoop. Under the [[First Amendment]] the reporter can't be charged, but the leaker could be jailed. For this a strict confidentiality understanding between reporter and leaker is needed. Both convince themselves they are serving the greater good by informing the public about government abuses or corruption; just as often the duplicitous collusion between journalists and bureaucrats is used for [[partisan]] purposes to influence elections.

==See also==

==See also==