He wants whistleblowers Julian Assange and Edward Snowden hauled in and prosecuted for revealing classified documents, but US President Donald Trump should pardon them instead, said Hawaiian Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a Democrat who ran for her party's nomination.

After dropping plans to put a limit on awards to whistleblowers, the US' Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it paid out a record of more than $175 million through Sept. 30 to 39 people who revealed wrongdoing.

Some 26 journalists covering more than three months of protests against the reelection of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko have been jailed, the toll mounting even as he continues to consolidate power.

Lawyers for former military lawyer turned whistleblower David McBride, who revealed Australian elite forces killed civilians in Afghanistan, said charges against him for releasing classified information should be dropped after a report confirmed his claims.

A European Union scheme to let authorities access to encrypted messages if they're tied to investigations into terrorism and organized crime has journalists worried about protecting sources and digital rights campaigners about surveillance.

As complaints have grown about police violence in France, a proposed bill would make it unlawful to disseminate photographs or videos identifying officers if there is an “intent to harm”. The proposal leaves critics worried it could hinder press freedom.

Legislation approved by the Greek Parliament controlled by the ruling New Democracy party will grant amnesty to some 5,000 alleged tax evaders but also, according to critics, undermine the fight against money laundering and financial crime.

While journalism is considered especially dangerous business in Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia and the Pacific, the situation can be just as dire in the European Union, as the killings of investigative reporters Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta and Jan Kuciak in Slovakia showed.

The ABRE coalition, of which Blueprint for Free Speech is a member, met with representatives of the Ministry of Justice in Spain today to discuss the transposition of the EU Whistleblowing Directive into national law.

While Australia's government dropped prosecution of three journalists who used classified material to write about plans to surveil citizens and potential war crimes, they could be compelled to talk to the country's spy agency.

Australian police said journalist Dan Oakes won't be charged with obtaining classified information, clearing the last of three reporters who wrote about secret surveillance and possible war crimes.

In an effort of strengthening journalistic practices in the EU, the European Commission said it will allocate 61 million euros ($71.7 million) to help independent journalists, including fending off strategic lawsuits.