The Guardian has reported a significant enhancement in the quality of tips received from sources since the launch of its innovative secure messaging technology last June. This advanced system employs espionage-style techniques to encrypt and conceal messages sent by sources to journalists within The Guardian app.
With only select journalists holding the decryption keys, messages are designed to vanish after 14 days, ensuring a high level of confidentiality. The app’s unique functionality continuously sends signals from each device on which it is installed, providing sources with a level of anonymity that surpasses many other encrypted services.
Recently recognized as a finalist for the best new digital product in the International News Media Association’s Global Media Awards, the Secure Messaging platform has exceeded expectations, according to Luke Hoyland, who oversees The Guardian’s investigations and reporting development teams. He noted a remarkable shift in the ratio of tips to stories, stating, “We’ve had so many stories come from this platform, lots of top stories as well, front page stuff.”
While The Guardian refrains from disclosing specific stories linked to this technology to protect source identities, it has reported a surge in tips from the U.S. and Australia, despite the app’s primary user base being in the UK and Europe. Hoyland emphasized the platform’s role in fostering journalism in a challenging environment, remarking, “People are seeing there’s this organization that’s clearly very serious about getting the truth out.”
The Guardian app features a metered paywall, yet the secure messaging technology operates independently, allowing non-paying users to submit tips without restrictions based on their reading history. Hoyland highlighted the platform’s user-friendly design, which, while preventing spam, encourages contributions from those who might have previously felt intimidated by more complex secure alternatives.
What sets this initiative apart, Hoyland explained, is its ability to facilitate a higher caliber of communication compared to other platforms. The app not only invites new story leads but also allows sources to provide additional context to existing stories. The collaboration among The Guardian’s journalists, software developers, and product designers has been pivotal in achieving this balance of quality and quantity in messaging.
The technology addresses the challenge of initial contact, enabling sources to engage with journalists through the app before determining the most suitable communication method for ongoing discussions. However, the app’s security measures result in a delay of up to an hour between messages, which can hinder rapid exchanges.
‘I am Spartacus’: All Guardian app users helping to protect sources
As of September, The Guardian’s app boasts one million daily active users. Each instance of the app sends and receives random automated cover messages, which, while inconspicuous to users, serve to obscure genuine source communications. Hoyland described this process as akin to hiding a needle in a haystack, where real messages blend seamlessly with automated ones, enhancing source protection.
He noted, “If you just wanted to contribute to source protection around the world, you could literally just download the app and it will start doing that.” This phenomenon has been dubbed the “I am Spartacus” effect, highlighting the collective effort of app users in safeguarding journalistic sources.
While The Guardian provides various channels for sources to reach out, Secure Messaging stands out for its security. Other options, such as Secure Drop, require users to download Tor software, which may raise suspicions, while apps like WhatsApp and Signal can reveal that a user is communicating with a journalist, even if the message content remains hidden.
How to get better story tips
The Guardian has invested considerable effort into guiding sources on how to craft effective tips. This initiative aims to eliminate vague messages and document dumps that lack clarity. The app and website offer clear instructions on composing a good tip, emphasizing the importance of specifics such as names, locations, and dates.
Chloe Kirton, a senior user experience designer, remarked on the unprecedented detail provided to potential whistleblowers, noting that messages often adhere closely to the suggested format. The development of Secure Messaging proved to be more complex than anticipated, necessitating a departure from conventional approaches to accommodate the unique needs of whistleblowers.
Testing the product with staff simulating sources allowed for valuable insights, leading to adjustments such as renaming a dialogue box from “secure inbox” to “secure message vault” to enhance user perception of security.
Why The Guardian is sharing the secure messaging tech for free
The Guardian has made its secure messaging technology open source, allowing other newsrooms to adopt it. Although no other organizations have fully implemented it yet, several have expressed interest in learning from The Guardian’s experience. Hoyland expressed enthusiasm for this collaborative approach, stating that increased adoption would enhance source protection across the board.
The decision to share the technology stems from its foundation in insights from the University of Cambridge, aligning with The Guardian’s commitment to support liberal journalism globally. The organization is currently collaborating with whistleblower charity The Signals Network and the University of Cambridge to gather feedback from individuals with whistleblowing experience, which will inform future enhancements.
Kirton emphasized the goal of establishing foundational knowledge regarding the needs of whistleblowers during their initial outreach to journalists. This will involve qualitative interviews to explore trust-building dynamics and potential pitfalls. Future developments will focus on improving the journalist interface of the software, ensuring it meets the security standards established for source communication while enhancing usability for news gathering activities.
