How To Leak To ProPublica
We are a team of investigative journalists devoted to exposing abuse of power.
If you’ve got evidence showing powerful people doing the wrong thing, here’s how to let us know while protecting your identity.
Our job is to hold people and institutions accountable. And it requires evidence. Documents are a crucial part of that. We are always on the lookout for them — especially, now.
Have you seen something that troubles you or that you think should be a story? Do you have a tip about something we should be investigating? Do you have documents or other materials that we should see? We want to hear from you.
Here are a few ways to contact us or send us documents and other materials, safely, securely and anonymously as possible.
Here is our staff list, which links to each of our bios and email addresses. Of course, email is convenient, but if your information is sensitive, there are better options.
Encrypted Messages and Calls
Many ProPublica staffers use the free Signal app (iPhone, Android) to send and receive encrypted messages and phone calls. Signal communicates over an encrypted data connection, so your messages and calls do not appear in your phone provider’s logs. Cell phone numbers aren’t always shown in our staff list, but if you’re already in touch with a reporter it’s an easy way to add security.
Note that while Signal encrypts the contents of messages and calls within the app, it does display your cell phone number — something you may wish to avoid if you don’t want to be identifiable when contacting us.
- Julia Angwin (0xC664D201) and Jeff Larson (0×54119264) report on digital privacy, surveillance, and the role of algorithms in society.
- Jesse Eisinger, who covers the Trump administration and businesses, can be reached on Signal at (718) 496-5233.
- Justin Elliott (0x2C353E48) often reports on money and influence in politics.
- Robert Faturechi, who reports on money in politics, sends and receives encrypted messages on Signal at (213) 271-7217.
- Ryan Gabrielson, who reports on the justice system, can be reached on Signal at (917) 455-1713.
- A.C. Thompson, who reports on hate crimes and extremist groups, can be reached on Signal at (347) 563-8121.
- Mike Tigas (0x6E0E9923) works on digital privacy tools and workshops, and manages our SecureDrop and Tor onion site.
- Heather Vogell and Annie Waldman (0xE841874) report on all things education (from K-12 to higher ed). Both can be reached on Signal: Heather at (404) 270-0303 and Annie at (347) 549-0332.
- Megan Rose (formerly McCloskey), who covers the military, veterans, and criminal justice, can be reached on Signal at (202) 805-4865.
Encrypted Email
Some of our staff use PGP (aka “GPG”) encrypted email. PGP takes a bit of time to set up but allows you to send us messages that cannot be read without using a PGP program and the correct decryption key; your message body is hidden from email providers, hackers, and other parties that may get access to your email.
You can read more about email encryption and PGP here, and learn how to set it up on Windows or on a Mac.
One important caveat: PGP only protects the message body of your email. Metadata — information about who you are communicating with and when — is not protected and can be seen by anyone with access to your e-mail. (Like a mailed envelope, this unprotected information is used by email providers to make sure your message gets sent to the right place.) If your identity is sensitive, consider using a new, anonymous email address in combination with PGP, or try one of our other options.
The Low-Tech, but Secure Option: Postal Mail
Postal mail is an excellent, easy way to reach ProPublica securely. U.S. postal mail without a return address is one of the most secure ways to communicate — authorities would need a warrant to intercept and open it in transit.
Don’t use your company or agency mailroom to send something to us. Mail your package or envelope from an unfamiliar sidewalk box instead of going to a post office. You can mail us paper materials or digital files on, for example, a thumb drive. Our mailing address is:
ProPublica
155 Avenue of the Americas
13th Floor
New York, NY 10013-1507
155 Avenue of the Americas
13th Floor
New York, NY 10013-1507
If you can identify a reporter you want to reach, it’s worth noting that on the outside or inside of your package or envelope. You can also simply address it to ProPublica.
Super Hi-Tech, Time-Consuming but Maximum Security: SecureDrop
ProPublica uses a system called SecureDrop so you can share information and files with us with maximum security — far more than is possible with conventional email or other electronic means. Used properly, SecureDrop allows you to correspond with us in a way that shields your identity even from us.
Our SecureDrop server is only accessible using Tor, a special browser that masks information about your internet connection and the computer you are using. Although you How To Leak To ProPublica | PopularResistance.Org: