Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By
Lexie
While it might seem obvious to you that illegal violations and ethical misconduct
in your organization must stop, the bigger picture could be complicated and
require careful consideration.
Are you willing to go public with your allegations and possibly lose your job or
career? Are you willing to be exiled, even? Is part of your goal to preserve the
integrity of your organization, or are you ready to see it dismantled?
From the moment you decide to bring allegations forward, think about your
options. Going on record internally about your concerns might make it difficult to
go to the public later anonymously. However, reaching out directly to the public
might not always be the most efficient option if you want to maintain the
integrity of your organization.
It’s very much worthwhile to consult a lawyer before you blow the whistle, as the
precise circumstances of how you disclose your knowledge might make the
difference between protection by the law and “tried in a secret military court.”
It’s worth noting, though, that lawyers could be prohibitively expensive and
difficult to contact secretly.
Some organizations have internal watchdogs, but they might not be suitable. It’s
hard to evaluate who you can trust, and watchdog groups may not be equipped
with the technology or knowledge to receive anonymous tip-offs.
You should not rely on protection from those you leak to; they might have
friends, aides, or allegiances in places you don’t expect, and they might not be as
savvy or careful as you need them to be. After all, it’s not their skin in the game—
it’s yours.
The less data you exfiltrate, the easier it will be to fly under the radar. If you
download an entire hard drive, you’re more likely to be noticed than if you copy
a single file. Likewise, long phone calls are more prone to an investigation than
short ones, which could be passed off as a misdial.
In part two of this series, ExpressVPN looks at potential hazards when you leak
material out of your organization and communicate with journalists or
regulators.