We’re all taught that a free press is vital to a functioning democracy. And an important resource to that free press is the ability to protect the identity of sources. So what happens when, in the age of the internet, it’s extremely hard to stay anonymous? The Justice Department says it subpoenaed the Associated Press’s phone records to investigate a “national security leak.”

Many journalists are up in arms about that. Long-time investigative reporter Kevin Poulsen might hold part of a solution. He created something called Strongbox for the New Yorker Magazine, with the help of the late Internet activist Aaron Swartz.