Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing occurs when a member of an organization makes public or brings to the attention of authorities information from within that organization to promote accountability for illegitimate acts or wrongdoing. Whistleblowers may engage with internal actors, such as higher ranking members of their organizations or those whose job is to receive complaints, or they may engage with external actors such as regulatory agencies, politicians, or the media. The first type of action can be considered internal whistleblowing, while the latter is referred to as external whistleblowing. This entry discusses the purposes of whistleblowing, significant whistleblowing cases, and the influence of digital technologies on whistleblowing.

Legislation in multiple countries recognizes the relevance of whistleblowing to the pursuit of transparency and accountability. In the United States, the Ethics ...