Over the last 5 years in my attempt to launch HaYa as a whistleblowing platform I have spoken to many whistleblowers and realised that there is very little information on what is the best way to whistleblow to ensure that you are protected.
I have put together this list based on conversations and different situations whistleblowers have found themselves in so it might not all be relevant but it certainly can guide you.
1 – Let multiple people know
When whistleblowing do not rely on just one person or organisation, make sure that at least 3 different and unconnected people/organisations know that you are whistleblowing. In this way if one of them lets you down then there are backups.
Example – Financial whistleblowing; you should:
- Contact the official organisation’s whistleblowing channel (if they have one).
- Contact the authority that is supposed to oversee these cases.
- Contact a financial journalist.
- Contact a lawyer.
2 – Protect yourself technologically
These days everything is monitored and even though certain things claim to be secure, like End-to-End encrypted chats, they are not because the monitoring happens on your phone or computer where the info is decrypted. So what should you do:
- Get yourself a cheap second-hand laptop and install a fresh copy of Linx (I recommend Linux Mint but you can use Ubuntu). It is easy to do and there are plenty of YouTube instruction videos.
- Get yourself another email address from Gmail and make sure you set it up on your new laptop.
- When you do this setup make sure you use a public WiFi network such as a coffee shop or hotel.
- Get yourself a cheap Android phone and new sim card.
- Never use your home or office WiFi on these two items, you can use your new phone to share its data connection with shared WiFi with your Linux laptop.
- Only add contacts on your phone and laptop that are people helping you with your whistleblower case.
- DO NOT ADD SOCIAL MEDIA.
- Use HaYa or new Discord account (that you create with your new email on your Linux laptop) to talk to these people.
- Any electronic evidence like emails, files etc should be downloaded on a USB stick and then copied into your new laptop (Google Drive).
- Any communications on your old phone should be either photographed with your new phone or for long conversations video yourself scrolling through it.
3 – Tell a friend
Whistleblowing is one of the most stressful things you can do. It is very important that you have support. Tell a close friend or if you don’t have one find another whistleblower who has been through what you are going through.
There are going to be times when you are going to be sitting around waiting for things to happen and you are going to feel very much alone. These are the times when you need that support and having someone in your corner can help you psycologically and emotionally. Furthermore, paranoia is going to be a big factor and having someone to keep you grounded is going to be a huge help.
4 – Is it worth it?
This is probably the most important question. You have to evaluate if your whistleblowing is worth it. Certainly for cases that involve you personally, such as harassment in any form or where you are forced into doing something illegal then no question.
But if you are doing it because of moral values then be sure that it is worth it. It is easy for people on the sidelines to say you should always do the right thing but in the end it is your life and the life of the people around you so you have to really think if it is worth it.
