At least four Democratic senators—Frank Lautenberg, Barbara Boxer, Robert Menendez and Jay Rockefeller—have alleged that News Corp. companies may have violated the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) by paying British police for information. Those salivating at the prospect of an American legal offensive against News Corp. don't seem to appreciate the implications of deploying the FCPA in this situation: Its inappropriate application to news-gathering raises very significant First Amendment concerns for all U.S. media.

The...