The Guardian launches Secure Messaging, a world-first from a media organisation, in collaboration with the University of Cambridge
The Guardian has today (9 June) launched a unique new tool for protecting journalistic sources. Secure Messaging, a new whistleblowing innovation, makes it easier and safer for anyone to share stories and tips with our journalists via the Guardian app.
Built by the Guardian's product and engineering team in partnership with the University of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology, Secure Messaging is an exciting new approach to confidential communication between the public and the press.
Secure Messaging is unlike traditional information sharing platforms. The tech behind the tool conceals the fact that messaging is taking place at all. It makes the communication indistinguishable from data sent to and from the app by our millions of regular users. So, by using the Guardian app, readers are effectively providing 'cover' and helping us to protect sources.
Secure Messaging is not just a significant source protection tool for the Guardian. As part of our commitment to protecting the press and the public interest globally, the Guardian has published the source code for the technology that enables this system. This means that other organisations can use this technology freely to implement secure messaging tools within their own apps.
The development of Secure Messaging comes at a time when journalists and their confidential sources are under pressure in the US and globally. This work underpins the Guardian's long-standing commitment to investigative journalism in the public interest and to safeguarding those who take risks to expose the truth.
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media, says:
'Investigative reporting is extremely important to the Guardian; we have been exposing wrongdoing and scrutinising power with complete independence for decades. We know first-hand how impactful investigations so often depend on trusted reader-reporter interactions. Blowing the whistle on wrongdoing has always taken bravery and, as threats to journalists around the world increase, so does the need to protect confidential sources.'
Caspar Llewellyn Smith, chief product officer, Guardian News & Media says:
'Secure Messaging represents significant progress in protecting source anonymity. The Guardian is proud to lead the way in developing this new technology, working in close collaboration with the University of Cambridge. We have always had confidential processes for sharing digital information and Secure Messaging is a protected way for sources to get in touch – all within the secure environment of the Guardian app.'
Professor Alastair Beresford, Head of Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology, says:
'News organisations serve a key role in a democracy, providing all of us with independent information about our society, and holding the powerful to account. Protecting the identity of sources is a critical component of what makes investigative journalism safe and effective. We are pleased to collaborate with the Guardian to improve communication security between sources and journalists by using Secure Messaging in their main news app. It's wonderful to see this technology released as open source software, and we are keen to work with other global news organisations to adopt this.'
Further information about how the Guardian created Secure Messaging, can be found here.
Secure Messaging is one of the key new features within the Guardian's recently updated news app. Download now on the App Store and Google Play.
[ENDS]
For interviews please contact media.enquiries@theguardian.com.
Notes to editors
The concept for Secure Messaging originated following a paper written by University of Cambridge researchers in 2022 – 'CoverDrop: blowing the whistle through a news app'. The paper, which included interviews with staff at the Guardian, explored the issue with keeping sources truly confidential within current whistleblowing tech. Once published, the Guardian started work to make the Secure Messaging service a reality, with its product and engineering investigations and reporting team building the app, alongside a member of the original research team from the University of Cambridge.
The academic paper about the Guardian's implementation received positive feedback from experts in applied cryptography, human computer interaction and decentralised systems. The technology has been audited by 7A Security (with funding from the Open Technology Fund).
The Guardian will continue to develop the platform, adding new enhancements and security measures in the coming months.
About Guardian Media Group
Guardian Media Group is amongst the world's leading media organisations. Its core business is Guardian News & Media (GNM), publisher of theguardian.com, one of the largest English-speaking quality news websites in the world.
In the UK, Guardian Media Group publishes the Guardian newspaper six days a week, first published in 1821. Since launching its US and Australian digital editions in 2011 and 2013, respectively, traffic from outside of the UK now represents around two-thirds of the Guardian's total digital audience. The Guardian also has an international digital edition and a new European edition that launched in 2023, with an expanded network of more than 20 European correspondents, editors and reporters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
34 minutes ago
- Reuters
UK to invest 200 million pounds in Acorn carbon capture project in Scotland
LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Britain will invest 200 million pounds ($272 million) in the Acorn carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in Scotland, the government said on Thursday, fleshing out details of funding for the technology announced in a spending review on Wednesday. Britain has a climate target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and has said CCS will be needed to curb emissions from energy-intensive industrial sectors. Acorn, being developed by Storegga, Shell UK (SHEL.L), opens new tab, Harbour Energy (HBR.L), opens new tab and North Sea Midstream Partners, in St Fergus, Scotland, will capture carbon dioxide emissions from industry and store them under the North Sea. "This vital support will enable the critical work needed to reach Final Investment Decision (FID) and marks a major step forward — not only for Acorn, but for the development of Scotland's CCS infrastructure and the growth of a UK-wide carbon capture and storage industry," Tim Stedman, CEO of Storegga, said in an emailed statement. The government said it would also back the Viking CCS project in the Humber region, in the north of England, without specifying how much it would receive. "This (funding) will support industrial renewal in Scotland and the Humber with thousands of highly-skilled jobs at good wages to build Britain's clean energy future," Britain's energy minister, Ed Miliband, said in a release from Britain's Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Once operational, the two projects could capture up to 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, the government said. The funding is part of 9.4 billion pounds the government pledged to carbon capture technology over the spending review period and the 21.7 billion pounds it last year said would be spent on CCS over 25 years. ($1 = 0.7352 pounds)
The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists, Citizen Lab finds
Spyware from a U.S.-backed Israeli company was used to target the phones of at least three prominent journalists in Europe, two of whom are editors at an investigative news site in Italy, according to digital researchers at Citizen Lab, citing new forensic evidence of the attacks. The findings come amid a growing questions about what role the government of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni may have played in spying on journalists and civil society activists critical of her leadership, and raised new concerns about the potential for abuse of commercial spyware, even in democratic countries. 'Any attempts to illegally access data of citizens, including journalists and political opponents, is unacceptable, if confirmed,' the European Commission said in a statement Wednesday in response to questions from members of parliament. 'The Commission will use all the tools at its disposal to ensure the effective application of EU law.' Meloni's office declined to comment Thursday, but a prominent member of her Cabinet has said that Italy 'rigorously respected' the law and that the government hadn't illegally spied on journalists. Mercenary spyware industry The company behind the hacks, Paragon Solutions, has sought to position itself as a virtuous player in the mercenary spyware industry and won U.S. government contracts, The Associated Press found. Backed by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Paragon was reportedly acquired by AE Industrial Partners, a private investment firm based in Florida, in a December deal worth at least $500 million, pending regulatory approvals. AE Industrial Partners didn't directly respond to requests for comment on the deal. Paragon's spyware, Graphite, was used to target around 90 WhatsApp users from more than two dozen countries, primarily in Europe, Meta said in January. Since then, there's been a scramble to figure out who was hacked and who was responsible. 'We've seen first-hand how commercial spyware can be weaponized to target journalists and civil society, and these companies must be held accountable,' a spokesperson for WhatsApp told AP in an email. 'WhatsApp will continue to protect peoples' ability to communicate privately.' Meta said the vulnerability has been patched and they have not detected subsequent attacks. Meta also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon. Last month, a California court awarded Meta $168 million in damages from Israel's NSO Group, whose spyware was used to hack 1,400 WhatsApp accounts, including of journalists, activists and government officials. Journalists targeted The Citizen Lab's findings, released today, show that the use of spyware against journalists has continued, despite the backlash against NSO Group, and establish for the first time that Paragon was able to successfully infect Apple devices. Ciro Pellegrino, who heads the Naples newsroom of an investigative news outlet called received a notice on April 29 that his iPhone had been targeted. Last year, Fanpage secretly infiltrated the youth wing of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party and filmed some of them making fascist and racist remarks. Pellegrino's colleague, Fanpage editor-in-chief Francesco Cancellato, also received a notice from Meta that his Android device had been targeted by Paragon spyware, though forensic evidence that his phone was actually infected with Graphite hasn't yet surfaced, according to Citizen Lab. The Citizen Lab's report today also revealed a third case, of a 'prominent European journalist,' who asked to remain anonymous, but is connected to the Italian cluster by forensic evidence unearthed by researchers at the laboratory, which is run out of the Munk School at the University of Toronto. The Citizen Lab, which has analyzed all the devices, said the attack came via iMessage, and that Apple has patched the vulnerability. Apple did not respond immediately to requests for comment. 'Paragon is now mired in exactly the kind of abuse scandal that NSO Group is notorious for,' said John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the Citizen Lab. 'This shows the industry and its way of doing business is the problem. It's not just a few bad apples.' Stealthy spyware Paragon's spyware is especially stealthy because it can compromise a device without any action from the user. Similar to the NSO Group's notorious Pegasus spyware, which has been blacklisted by the U.S. government, Graphite allows the operator to covertly access applications, including encrypted messengers like Signal and WhatsApp. 'There's no link to click, attachment to download, file to open or mistake to make,' Scott-Railton said. 'One moment the phone is yours, and the next minute its data is streaming to an attacker.' Parliamentary oversight COPASIR, the parliamentary committee overseeing the Italian secret services, took the rare step last week of making public the results of its investigation into the government's use of Paragon. The COPASIR report said that Italian intelligence services hadn't spied on Cancellato, the editor of Fanpage. The report did confirm the surveillance, with tools including Graphite, of civil society activists, but said they had been targeted legally and with government authorization — not as activists but over their work related to irregular immigration and national security. Giovanni Donzelli, vice president of COPASIR and a prominent member of Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, declined further comment Thursday, saying the parliamentary report was 'more relevant than an analysis done by a privately funded Canadian laboratory.' Citizen Lab says it's 'rigorously independent,' and doesn't accept research funding from governments or companies. Italy and Paragon both say they've terminated their relationship, but offer starkly different versions of the breakup. Paragon referred questions to a statement it gave to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, in which the company said that it stopped providing spyware to Italy after the government declined its offer to help investigate Cancellato's case. Italian authorities, however, said they had rejected Paragon's offer over national security concerns and ended the relationship following media outcry. U.S. contracts Paragon has been keen to deflect reputational damage that could, in theory, impact its contracts with the U.S. government. A 2023 executive order, which so far hasn't been overturned by U.S. President Donald Trump, prohibits federal government departments and agencies from acquiring commercial spyware that has been misused by foreign governments, including to limit freedom of expression and political dissent. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded Paragon a one-year, $2 million contract last September for operations and support of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, public records show. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has also reportedly used the spyware. In December 2022, Adam Schiff, the California Democrat who at the time chaired the House Intelligence Committee, wrote to the administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration questioning whether the DEA's use of Graphite spyware undermined efforts to deter the 'broad proliferation of powerful surveillance capabilities to autocratic regimes and others who may misuse them.' ___ Byron Tau in Washington, and Lorne Cook in Brussels, contributed to this report.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Bose × LISA Ultra Open Earbuds review: I tested the Blackpink singer's latest collaboration - they're the most comfortable earphones I've ever worn
K-pop star, White Lotus actress, and now tech mogul – is there anything Lisa can't do? The Blackpink singer has joined forces with Bose on a new pair of headphones – and they're seriously chic. The Ultra Open Earbuds have a glossy black finish and a cuff-like fit, and almost look like fancy earrings. Upon closer inspection, they even feature Lisa's signature chrome star, which is a sweet nod to her latest album. Unlike traditional earphones which cover your ears, the Ultra Open Earbuds sit a short distance from the ear canal. This makes them super comfortable to wear, but does result in some sound leakage, which could lead to embarrassment if your playlists look anything like mine. MailOnline's Science and Technology Editor, Shivali Best, tested them out this week. At £379.95, they're definitely not cheap – so, would you buy them? Bose × LISA Ultra Open Earbuds Our verdict The Bose x LISA Ultra Open Earbuds are the most comfortable earphones I've tried yet. They're barely noticeable on your ear, and could easily pass as jewellery amongst your other earrings. Despite not physically going into your ear, the sound quality is excellent - albeit with some sound leakage at higher volumes. At £379.95, they're definitely on the pricier side, so unless you're a die-hard Lisa fan, I'd advise saving yourself £130 and opting for the almost identical Bose Ultra Open Earbuds. How we test earphones When testing earphones, we try them across multiple real-world settings, including the office, our homes, and out and about. We evaluate the devices across a range of measures, including design, comfort, price and sound quality. Each pair of earphones goes through several days of hands-on testing, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make informed decisions. Why trust us Shivali Best is the Science & Technology Editor at MailOnline and has been testing products and writing reviews for nine years. She completed a Master's degree in Science Journalism at City University London in 2014 and previously worked at The Mirror as Deputy Science & Technology Editor. Bose x LISA Ultra Open Earbuds review Design Lisa is one of the biggest fashion stars around the world, so it comes as no surprise that her earphones are seriously stylish. The case itself has a glossy black finish, and the chrome star - one of Lisa's signature designs - emblazoned on the back is lovely touch. Opening up the case, you're met with the chrome earphones, which could easily pass as jewellery. This is particularly the case when you put them on alongside other earrings, with the shiny wraparound design easily blending in with more traditional hoops and studs. I wore the earphones around the office to show my colleagues, who all agreed they were much cooler than standard in-ear alternatives. There's no doubt about it - these are some of the best looking earphones on the market. Comfort Unlike traditional earphones which cover your ears, the Ultra Open Earbuds wrap around your helix and sit a short distance from the ear canal. As someone who usually wears in-ear earphones, this open ear design certainly took some getting used to. Clipping them over my helixes for the first time, I was convinced I'd done something wrong. I could barely feel there was anything there at all. Surely this couldn't be right? Upon inspection in a mirror, I was amazed to discover that they were properly secured - something that I confirmed with a tentative shake of the head. I also really like that you can slide the earbud slightly up or down the outside of your ear - ideal if, like me, you like to mix up the number of earrings you wear. This design is an absolute gamechanger for comfort, and it's also probably a lot more sanitary than in-ear earphones, which can accumulate sweat, earwax and dirt. Sound quality It's all well and good looking great, but one thing is obviously key with earphones - the sound quality. Without a bud in my ear, I was initally worried that the sound quality would be compromised, but thankfully this wasn't the case. The earphones feature Bose's OpenAudio technology, which allows for deep, rich audio, even when they're a short distance from the ear canal. I tested the earphones in the noisy office, and was pleasantly surprised to hear my songs and podcasts with great clarity. The one slight downside is the sound leakage. Bose claims that in most environments and at most listening levels, people around you won't hear a thing. However, when I cranked the volume up, my colleague could hear that something was playing, and after a few seconds could even name the song. £379.95 Shop This could prove rather embarrassing if your playlists are as eclectic as mine... Price The Bose x LISA Open Earbuds are some of the most expensive earphones on the market. At £379.95, they're £150 more than Apple's AirPods Pro 2, £220 more than Huawei's FreeBuds Pro 4, and £190 more than the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2. What's more, they're £130 more than the Bose Ultra Open Earbuds, which are identical, simply without the Lisa branding. Unless you're a die-hard fan or desperate for the chrome star emblem, it's probably best to save your cash and opt for the unbranded versions!
