Whistleblowing for Change

1. Why did you choose this topic?

Whistleblowing is a courageous practice of political and social disruption, triggered by the motivation of an individual to report abuses that pose dangers to the common good. It is an action of civic sensitivity that has changed people's perception of surveillance and control in today's information society. The book addresses whistleblowing not only to show its value to denounce misconducts, but also to bring evidence of its capacity to trigger a political and social change.

2. What new perspectives does your book offer?

Unlike other books that investigate whistleblowing as very specific and technical instance, ›Whistleblowing for Change‹ focuses on thirty individual stories instead of on the phenomenon itself. The authors have acted as members of the US military, of the National Security Agency, the CIA, the MI5, or they have raised the issue as lawyers, activists, hackers, researchers, or artists. The book informs and empowers the public concerning the deep meaning and consequences of their choice.

3. What makes your topic relevant for current research debates?

Whistleblowing is a complex process aimed to trigger concrete acts of change. Some of the authors have suffered defamation, extradition, or prison sentences, paying a high price for telling the truth. The society is still unaware of the deep meaning of whistleblowing, remaining far from the understanding that concrete changes depend upon the actions of us all. The aim is to connect different expertise, foster new investigations, and examine methods to expose systems of power and injustice.

4. Choose one person you would like to discuss your book with!

On the one hand, the book is directed to prompt the discussion among the people far away from the concept of whistleblowing, and to let them learn on the impact of whistleblowing at a broad level. On the other hand, it addresses the people already involved in the field and brings to discussion which is the better way to spread the word about what they do and why. The real point is to understand how the systems work and if they need a change from within, and which tactics should be used for that.

5. Your book summary in one sentence:

The wider effects of whistleblowing: a practice of social, political and artistic disruption from within.