whistle-blowing
Alerting about misconduct
Whistle-blowing is reporting wrongdoing within an organization to authorities or the public.
The term evokes someone blowing a whistle to alert others to danger or foul play.
A whistle-blower exposes fraud, corruption, safety violations, or illegal activity, often at personal risk: The whistle-blowing led to a federal investigation.
Laws in many jurisdictions protect whistle-blowers from retaliation.
Escape through a breach
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- exposeMake known publicly
- divulgeReveal private information
- testimonySworn statement as evidence
informant · insider · tip-off · confidential · classified · anonymous · evidence · proof
Obligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- auditFormal accounts examination
- inspector generalAgency's internal watchdog official
ombudsman · watchdog · regulator · ethics hotline · internal affairs · review · scrutiny · reform
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- boldnessFearless readiness to act
fearlessness · daring · audacity · guts · pluck · risk-taking · resilience · steadfastness
Guarding against harm
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
- SECStock market regulator
Dodd-Frank · subpoena · deposition · testimony · complaint · allegation · investigation · prosecution
Leaked surveillance secrets
- Chelsea ManningMilitary intelligence leaker
- Deep ThroatAnonymous insider who exposed corruption
- Pentagon PapersLeaked Defense Department documents
- WikiLeaksTransparency organization publishing leaks
Erin Brockovich · NSA · Enron · Theranos
leak
Escape through a breach
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- exposeMake known publicly
- divulgeReveal private information
testimony · informant · insider · tip-off · confidential · classified · anonymous · evidence · proof · coverup
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- transparencyState of being see-through
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- auditFormal accounts examination
inspector general · ombudsman · watchdog · regulator · ethics hotline · internal affairs · review · scrutiny · reform · safeguards
bravery
Boldness before danger
boldness · fearlessness · daring · audacity · guts · pluck · risk-taking · resilience · steadfastness · backbone
protection
Guarding against harm
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- lawsuitCivil court proceeding
- settlementResolved dispute or colony
SEC · Dodd-Frank · subpoena · deposition · testimony · complaint · allegation · investigation · prosecution · immunity
Edward Snowden
Leaked surveillance secrets
- Chelsea ManningMilitary intelligence leaker
- Deep ThroatAnonymous insider who exposed corruption
- Pentagon PapersLeaked Defense Department documents
Erin Brockovich · WikiLeaks · NSA · Enron · Theranos
- disclosurerevealing, disclosing, disclosure, disclose, divulge
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- individual actskindness, generosity, bravery, courage, charity
- protestdemonstration, walkout, picket, protest march, sit-in
- confessionsconfession, admission, true confession, deathbed confession, divulgence
- Medical Ethicsmedical ethics, patient confidentiality, informed consent, patient autonomy, beneficence
whistle-blowingcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
concealment · suppression · stonewalling · secrecy · obfuscation
whistle-blowingclosing ranks
looking the other way · complicity · collusion · omertà · code of silence
whistle-blowingcomplicity
Shared criminal involvement
collusion · abetting · enabling · turning a blind eye · willful ignorance
whistle, blowing, whistling, whistles, whistled, whistleblower, blow the whistle, whistle-blower, whistleblow