An Act relative to the free flow of information

This bill, known as the Free Flow of Information Act, establishes legal protections for journalists and their sources in Massachusetts. It prevents government officials from forcing news gatherers to reveal who their confidential sources are or to hand over unpublished materials like notes and outtakes. While the law generally shields this information, it allows courts to order disclosure only under strict conditions, such as when revealing a source is critical to preventing imminent harm to public safety. Additionally, any information obtained by the government in violation of these protections cannot be used in legal proceedings.