For Whistleblowers' Sake, Choose Hosting Platforms Wisely
This is not an ad, we are not endorsing anybody
Having just mentioned secure channels for whistleblowers (my wife and I were whistleblowers in a former employer), let's explain that it is not sufficient. Many newspapers established ways to acquire information without burning sources (e.g. meeting in person at some place and speaking face to face). But have they properly guarded against all sorts of retaliation against the publishers, which can be attacked even if the sources are not known and are kept discreet?
Techrights is hard to 'sedate' and it has always been that way, though measures were taken to further fortify the platform in all sorts of ways. Small sites don't have a "scorecard" because minor platforms that almost nobody knows about are a lot less likely to attract DDoS attacks and other forms of harm.
Protecting sources is the first step.
A second and very important step is protecting the information those sources wish to make available to the wider public. Because knowledge is power, including the power to reform, not just inform.
Censorship in Turkey was mentioned here last weekend in relation to SLAPPs because Turkey is the most extreme example not just in Europe but also in the so-called "Western World" (whatever that means, it's intentionally vague). In Turkey, journalists are being sent to prison for publishing true information that embarrasses the "Sultan" and his circle. In Turkey, journalists are also being killed.
By contrast, here in the UK the police takes very seriously death threats that I receive (and which mention my wife). Over 10 cops have already spoken to me about it and have chatted with my wife about it. It's taken seriously and this past year (2025) our home was marked for extra protection, knowing there was a risk to our lives. Earlier this year we spoke to well known politicians and not too long afterwards we were granted a lot of money to protect ourselves from lawfare. The judge whom I spoke to 2 days ago had told us that press was present in the courtroom. That is the exception, not the norm (the AP staff typically evacuates/abandons cases that are considered 'boring', of no public concern).
It is a matter of public interest, at least here in the UK, when American men who went to prison for strangling women take up national resources - to the point where it is exhausting budget derived from British taxpayers.
Generally speaking, my experience with the British system - as far as maintaining access to information - has been mostly positive, definitely better than my experience with American webhosts who are thin-skinned and see everything through the lens of money (our first webhost gave up on us around 2008 because of DDoS attacks against us).
Less than 3 months from now it'll be 3 full years since we moved everything to the UK - a decision that was timely and even well overdue. Despite aggression from Americans against the current host (even some Ontario Criminal who did various illegal things!), this host was always on our side. It also told Garrett, politely, to 'take a hike' (after Garrett had contacted the host from some American forest cabin he didn't own; he owns no house, he keeps lying about that, he is deep in debt).
Here we are in 2026 having the time of our lives and producing a lot more than ever. But "haters gonna hate..." █