Self-incrimination through forced revelations of journalistic data

In this age of intelligent machines, journalists often keep information that is sensitive, confidential and self-evidentiary in their laptops or mobile phones, or in cloud storage facilities. That is why the threshold of privacy of such data is much higher than of personal data. One can recall the Panama Papers scandal, which shook the whole world with revelations of confidential documents regarding corruption and offshore wealth. Therefore, access to the digital devices of a journalist cannot be given without due process and judicial scrutiny, and without maintaining checks and balances in order to protect the right to privacy and freedom of the press in a democratic society.