Clear signal Protecting the ‘big data’ whistle-blowers

Whistle-blowers are being offered a “witness protection scheme” to expose “wrongdoing” in the technology industry.

An American not-for-profit organisation founded by a French entrepreneur and philanthropist has said it will offer financial and legal support to individuals working within “big data” if they are able provide information that shows how the public is being “harm [ed], exploited or misled”.

The Signals Network, which was set up last year, is working with a consortium of journalists around the world and aims to provide assistance to potential whistle-blowers to ensure that powerful corporations can be investigated.

Newspapers and websites in America and Europe – including The Telegraph – have issued a “call for information” to people working in technology companies who are able to show how the public is being misled or that the information they have provided is being misused.

In recent years, concerns have arisen about how “big data” may be being misused by firms.

The “call for information” asked whistleblowers to provide information that exposed wrongdoing or could “shed light on commonly misunderstood or questioned practices, for example, why companies have chosen specific product updates and their effect on consumers”.

Once the information has been provided to the reporters, each case will be “vetted” by a committee and, based on the public interest and risk exposure, the Signals will decide on the level of protection to be offered.

Businessman Gilles Raymond, who set up the Signals Network, said it aimed to support whistleblowers by setting up the “equivalent of the witness protection program”.

To find out more about The Signals Network go to telegraph. co.uk/bigdatacall