Free Flow of Information Act of 2005

H.R. 3323, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2005, seeks to establish a federal "shield law" that protects journalists from being forced by federal entities to reveal their confidential sources or turn over sensitive documents. Under this bill, the government could only compel a reporter to testify if it proves that the information is essential to a case, cannot be obtained elsewhere, and—in matters of national security—that the need for disclosure outweighs the public interest in the free flow of news. For the average citizen, this legislation aims to ensure that whistleblowers and sources can speak to the media without fear of exposure, thereby maintaining the public's access to information regarding government activities and corporate conduct.