Since the first stories revealing the extent of mass surveillance appeared in the Guardian in 2013, the files leaked by Ed Snowden have shone a light on the secret surveillance carried out by governments around the world.

In the UK, there has been widespread condemnation of recent disclosures that police forces have obtained journalists' phone records to identify confidential sources. The use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (Ripa), which enables secret access to, and seizing of, journalistic communications, has significant implications for journalism. Now the National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists are holding a day-long international conference to discuss these increasingly alarming encroachments into our freedoms.

The conference, "Journalism in the age of mass surveillance: safeguarding journalists and their sources", is being hosted by Guardian News & Media. It will discuss key concerns for press freedom and explore practical steps for safeguarding journalists and their sources.

The conference takes place on Thursday 16 October at Kings Place in London from 9am – 5pm. It will bring together journalists and media workers from around the world, politicians, trade unionists, lawyers, civil rights and privacy campaigners. The speakers will include Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet, IFJ president Jim Boumelha, leading human rights lawyer Gavin Millar QC, comedian-activist Mark Thomas, Massimo Mucchetti from Corriere della Sera, Bernie Lunzer from the US Newspaper Guild and Izza Leightas from Human Rights Watch. To attend, please RSVP by 8 October to pressfreedom@nuj.org.uk

Sources: NUJ/IFJ