“This timely book is a guide to any would-be whistleblower, any person considering the disclosure of information which exposes wrongdoing or harmful behavior. In today’s highly surveilled digital world, knowing the safest and most secure way to reveal wrongdoing is critical. Thoroughly and in detail, Tim Schwartz outlines the pros and cons of different methods of exposure. It is the must-have handbook for concerned employees as well as journalists and lawyers working with whistleblowers.”
“Before reaching out to the media, whistleblowers need to safely and anonymously gather documentation of wrongdoing, and then figure out how to securely discuss it with journalists. In the age of ubiquitous surveillance, where even doing a single Google search could out you as the source, this is no simple or easy feat. The techniques described in this book are vital for anyone who wishes to blow the whistle while reducing their risk of retaliation.”
“Despite my 40 years of working with whistleblowers, Tim Schwartz taught me how much I still have to learn about protecting their identities. This easy-to-understand book, packed with practical nuts-and-bolts guidance, is a must-read for anyone who wants to blow the whistle anonymously.”
The Author
Image by Mariona Vilaros
Tim Schwartz's career focuses on data privacy and digital information as an artist, activist, and technologist. He specializes in teaching techniques for challenging power while protecting one’s identity. Schwartz co-organizes the digital training organization Los Angeles Cryptoparty, a member of the Electronic Frontier Alliance. He currently works as a digital strategist at Alley, a digital agency that builds websites and digital systems for the media, nonprofits, and others. After developing technology to reunite missing people affected by the earthquake in Haiti in 2010, he began organizing the Missing Persons Community of Interest, which develops technology for reunifying families after disasters. He lives in Los Angeles.
“In today’s digital age with the vast amount of information technology available to target disclosures that those in power would prefer remain hidden, this book provides a practical roadmap when making that often life-altering choice of standing up and exposing abuse and misuse of power across all sectors of society.”
Excerpt
Challenging power through disclosure is not something we typically practice over and over until we get it right. Instead, you will be heading into a gauntlet without knowing the traps and challenges that lie around every corner. Unlike a career or skill learned over time, safely disclosing information isn’t typically an art that people are able to practice. Compare this to the institutions that you will be challenging, which get a chance to practice every time someone new stands up to them.
The best way to combat this lack of experience is by working with a partner—a person or group that has been through the process before and can help navigate the social, technical, and legal hurdles. You want partners with an understanding of your circumstances, an understanding of the adversaries you are up against, and an understanding of the power dynamics at play. It might be your first time going through this process, but it need not be your partner’s.
Just as there are a variety of reporting channels, there are just as many types of partners. Some partners can act as a reporting channel as well—such as a journalist who can also report through their publication to the public, or an activist at an organization that can act on or release your material on behalf of the public. With these types of partners, you must be sure to consider their interests and how they compare with yours. In most cases, these types of partners are going to be beholden to their own organization’s interests first. If your goals, concerns, privacy, and safety don’t align with your partner’s, you might want to look for a partner elsewhere.
Think through the goals you wish to achieve and your risk assessment. Use these to evaluate and rank potential partners. You need a partner that can help you achieve your goals, such as righting wrongs and notifying the public while limiting the negative consequences for you. Look for partners you can trust. Trust, above all, can be the best way to judge a partner and to create a relationship that weathers the difficult process of challenging power through information disclosure.
Even if you work with a partner such as a journalist or activist, a lawyer above all others might be the most welcome partner, too. Look for lawyers who are committed to your public interest mission and who are in sync with your objectives as someone seeking to disclose information. Lawyers can work directly on your behalf, as well as help you navigate a traditional reporting channel while maintaining alignment of their interests and yours. Engaging a lawyer can be the best way to limit negative consequences. Of course, beware that many lawyers may see a case solely as a paycheck, and could try to trade your silence for cash in a settlement. Consider their objectives and their track record carefully when evaluating a lawyer as a potential partner.