Whistleblowing

A whistleblower is someone who reports conduct that is unlawful, abusive or can cause harm. This can include, but is not limited to, criminal offences, corruption, fraud, human rights violations or gender-based violence. Whistleblowers can come from a wide range of backgrounds and roles, including employees, contractors, interns, volunteers, suppliers or former staff members, or any other individuals who become aware of such wrongdoing in the course of their work or dealings with an organisation.

Whistleblowing is one of the most effective ways to detect and prevent corruption. Whistleblowers’ disclosures have helped save millions in public funds, protect people’s health, prevent environmental disasters and expose everyday workplace wrongdoing.

Their impact is visible in some of the biggest scandals of recent decades. LuxLeaks and the Panama Papers exposed industry-scale tax avoidance. The Danske Bank scandal revealed money laundering on a vast scale.

Many cases of wrongdoing go unreported and, when they do, corruption continues unchecked.

Reporting wrongdoing can come at a high price. Unfortunately, whistleblowers risk their career, their livelihood and sometimes their personal safety. They may be fired, sued, harassed, arrested, threatened or, in extreme cases, assaulted or killed.

Careful preparation can reduce risks and improve the chances that a disclosure will have an impact:

• Document relevant information lawfully and keep accurate records. Do not conduct your own investigations or obtain information illegally.

• Seek legal advice before making a disclosure, particularly in complex or high-risk cases.

• Understand the available reporting channels: internal reporting systems may suit some situations, while external regulators or law enforcement agencies may be more appropriate in others. Public disclosure may be justified, for example, when other avenues have failed or are unlikely to be effective.

• Consider how to protect your identity and personal information. Before making a report, find out whether confidential or anonymous reporting is available, and take steps to safeguard your communications, documents and digital security.

Trusted advice can also make the difference between a disclosure leading to accountability or disappearing without consequence.

Find out what reporting avenues and protections exist in your country before acting. Transparency International's Advocacy and Legal Advice Centres (ALACs) provide free, confidential advice. Check if there is one near you.

Learn more about the whistleblowers the ALACs have helped.

Around 150 countries have some form of whistleblower protection in their legal systems – a significant achievement reflecting growing recognition that protecting those who report misconduct is essential for good governance.

In many countries, protection amounts to a few clauses embedded in labour or anti-corruption legislation. Roughly 60 countries have dedicated, comprehensive laws.

In the United States, protection is fragmented across sector-specific legislation, including the Whistleblower Protection Act for federal employees and the False Claims Act for fraud against the government.

Progress across much of Latin America, Africa and Asia has been slow and uneven. While some countries have enacted dedicated whistleblower laws, many still rely on fragmented or sector-specific provisions, offer limited protection against retaliation, or lack effective enforcement mechanisms. As a result, in many of these regions, whistleblowers continue to face personal, professional and legal risks when reporting wrongdoing.

In countries facing elevated corruption risks and weaker accountability mechanisms, these gaps can make it significantly harder to deter abuse of power.

In Europe, the EU Whistleblower Protection Directive, adopted in October 2019, has driven the most significant legislative reform of recent years. It was the first time the EU had a dedicated law in this area and its impact has been transformative: before the Directive, only 11 member states had any law protecting whistleblowers.

The Directive came into force in December 2019, with member states and those wishing to join the EU required to transpose it into national law by December 2021. Many went beyond the minimum requirements, broadening the scope of protected disclosures, accepting anonymous reports, and establishing penalties for organisations that fail to set up whistleblowing systems.

Transparency International played a central role in putting whistleblower protection on the EU agenda. Working with a broad coalition of civil society organisations, trade unions and journalist associations, we advocated at every stage of the legislative process to ensure the final text reflected best practice.

The EU Commission's proposal and the position adopted by the EU Parliament in November 2018 incorporated many of our key recommendations. The result was a landmark piece of legislation. The crucial role played by civil society in achieving a strong text was recognised by the Members of Parliament leading the process.

Having a law is only the beginning. Our most recent assessment of implementation across all EU member states and EU candidate countries shows that transposition has been uneven, and significant gaps remain in access to remedies and practical support for whistleblowers.

Also, stronger laws have not automatically produced stronger protection: whistleblowers continue to face delays and a lack of confidence in reporting systems.

The three main reasons people give for not reporting corruption are fear of the consequences, the belief that nothing will be done, and uncertainty about how and where to report.

Protecting whistleblowers from retaliation, discrimination and disadvantage can embolden people to speak up and increase the likelihood that wrongdoing is uncovered and penalised. Companies, public bodies and non-profit organisations should introduce effective internal reporting systems. In some societies, whistleblowing still carries a stigma.

Transparency International works to create an environment where people can report wrongdoing without risking their career, livelihood or safety. We do this by:

1. advocating for strong, comprehensive whistleblower protection legislation.
2. pushing governments and authorities to enforce the laws that exist.
3. working with public institutions and private companies to implement whistleblowing systems effectively.
4. advising and supporting individuals considering or who have already blown the whistle, through our ALACs.

When no one speaks up, we all pay the price.