Whistle Blowing

What is whistle blowing?A whistleblower is a person who exposes misconduct, alleged dishonest or illegal activity occurring in an organization.

Often called “making a disclosure in the public interest.

The term coined by US civic activist Ralph Nader

Types of whistle blowing?

1-Internal: if the complaint is made within the organisation.

2. external: if the complaint is made to an outside body, like newspaper and other forms of media.

The ethics of whistle blowing

1. From the people’s point of view

1. need for truth 2. The trust factor 3. Better relation

between the general public and company.

2. From the company’s point of view

1. Accuses whistle blowers of breaching the confidentiality agreement.

2. CAN view whistle blowing as an act towards money and fame.

3. From the whistle blower’s point of view

1. Caught up between integrity, commitment

and truth.2. The consequences of

the blowing the “whistle” is pretty

immense and heavy.

Protection laws

Whistleblower protection refers to laws and regulation that offers protection who exposes wrongdoing and dishonest activities. The wrongdoing may take the form of fraud, corruption or mismanagement.Also, it offers punishment against false or frivolous complaints.

In America:It was first brought into action in 1989. it protects whistle blowers who work in a government firm.

a federal agency violates this act if the company concerned takes or threatens to take retaliatory action against a whistle blower for disclosure.

Concerning India

It was passed by the Lok Sabha on 27th December, 2011 and by Rajya Sabha on 21st February, 2014 and is still waiting president’s assent.

Satyanendra DubeyHe was an Ex-iitan and an IES officer. Assassinated on 27th November, 2003 forExposing and fighting corruption on the GoldenQuadraliteral project of National Highway AuthorityOf India.

WikiLeaks FounderJulian Assange is an

Australian publisher and

journalist. He is the controversial founder of the whistleblower

website WikiLeaks which releases

sensitive and or classified documents

which have embarrassed leaders

worldwide.

Julian Paul Assange

WikiLeaks has been involved in the publication of material documenting extrajudicial killings in

Kenya, a report of toxic waste dumping on the coast of Côte d'Ivoire, Church of Scientology manuals,

Guantanamo Bay detention camp procedures, the 12 July 2007 Baghdad airstrike video, and material

involving large banks such as Kaupthing and Julius Baer among other documents.

WikiLeaks became internationally well

known in 2010 when it began to

publish U.S. military and diplomatic documents with

assistance from its partners in the news media. 

Julian Assange Quotes

“You have to start with the truth. The truth is the only way that we can get anywhere. Because any decision-making that is based upon lies or ignorance can't lead to a good conclusion.”

“Large newspapers are routinely censored by legal costs. It is time this stopped. It is time a country said, enough is enough, justice must be seen, history must be preserved, and we will give shelter from the storm.”

“Intelligence agencies keep things secret because they often violate the rule of law or of good behavior.”

Benedict Cumberbatch played Julian Assange in the The Fifth Estate, a 2013 American-British-

Belgian thriller film about  WikiLeaks.

“Case Study”Going Inside Of the “ The INSIDER” or the“ The Man Who Knew Too Much”

Who Is Jeffrey Wigand?Jeffrey Wigand was the head of R&D in

Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, recruited to reduce the toxicity of the Cigarettes.

What made him to blow the whistle?B&W were aware of dangers Wigand’s research would

cost. Kendrick Wells, attorney at B&W made sure that employees didn’t track company’s research works.

B&W clearly risked lives of many , by publishing reports stating ‘Increased Biological Activity’, coded for carcinogenic activities.

During his last years of stay at B&W, he started investigating additives to tobacco products, which led to conflict with the then Chairperson of B&W,” Thomas Sandefur”. Ultimately, he was alleged of poor performance and poor communication skills, and was fired.

Risks Undertaken By “ Insider’’Contractual obligation.Internal Whistle Blowing.Applying Utilitarianism.Applying Virtue of ethics.Moral conflict.

SWOT analysis of Jeffrey WigandS - He was a ethical and robust person who had the confidence to rise voice against unethical and wrong activities in the company.W – He perceived the things so quickly and took action on it , he also became greedy for money.O – He had the opportunity to stop the company from involving in unethical or illegal activity and get a big amount of money.T – He will never be appointed by any other company in future.

Depiction in popular cultureWigand’s prolific story was so enthralling ,

that it was turned into a biopic.Directed by Michael Mann , the film stars Al

Pacino and Russell Crowe.

•

• Edward Joseph Snowden is an American computer specialist, former employee of the Central Intelligence Agency and former contractor for the National Security Agency.

Whistle Blowers in some areas are not without legal support. In United States, both federal and state laws are aimed at protecting those who undertake whistle blowing.

However, even with this support, the potential whistle blower must still contemplate a difficult and dangerous path.

The primary protection law is the Federal Whistle Blower Protection Act of 1989

Another Federal Law is the False Claims Act, which has been around since 1863

Many state governments have passed their own whistle blower protection acts

Is the act of whistle blowing justified…?

A legitimate claim:

The right motive

Other alternatives have been exhausted

??Small personal sacrifice??: Re-Visiting Employee Loyalty

Conclusions… A whistle blowing incident is

probably the most emotionally difficult thing you can experience as a professional

Not every incident that should result in whistle blowing does, sometimes the whistle is “swallowed” rather than blown

In some cases, there are federal and state laws meant to provide protection for the whistle blowers

If you find yourself in a possible whistle-blowing incident, you should exhaust all internal alternatives for addressing the problem and accumulate all documentation possible. If blowing the whistle becomes the only alternative, then you should anticipate a job change and you should get good legal representation