The federal Privacy Protection Act generally prohibits law enforcement from searching newsrooms or seizing materials from journalists, except in limited circumstances involving alleged criminal wrongdoing.
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U.S. federal statutory protection against searches and seizures of journalistic materials.
The federal Privacy Protection Act protects journalists and newsrooms from most searches by law enforcement and generally requires the use of subpoenas rather than search warrants to obtain journalists' materials.
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legal
U.S. federal statute providing privacy protections for journalists and news organizations against searches and seizures of work product and documentary materials.