Whistleblowing: The Business of Truth

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | June 2, 2025
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At Vancouver’s Web Summit, two speakers from Washington D.C.-based nonprofit Whistleblower Aid are highlighting the critical role whistleblowing plays—not only in safeguarding democracy, but in protecting ethical business practices. In an age where institutional accountability is under constant scrutiny, Whistleblower Aid provides a lawful path for individuals to expose wrongdoing safely and effectively.

Founded in 2017, Whistleblower Aid is a legal nonprofit that helps government and private-sector workers report misconduct—ranging from national security violations to corporate fraud—without risking their freedom or careers. The organization has supported whistleblowers behind landmark cases, including Frances Haugen of Facebook and the intelligence community whistleblower who triggered the first impeachment of President Donald Trump.

What makes whistleblowing deeply business-related? Here are five reasons:

Corporate Governance: Whistleblowing often reveals issues like fraud, discrimination, or regulatory violations, directly impacting a company’s leadership, financial standing, and reputation. It drives necessary internal reforms.
Risk Management: Companies with clear whistleblower policies can detect and address problems early—before they escalate into legal or public relations disasters.
Legal & Financial Impact: Failure to address reported misconduct can result in lawsuits, fines, and criminal investigations. Laws such as the Dodd-Frank Act in the U.S. provide both protections and incentives for whistleblowers.
Workplace Culture: A company’s response to whistleblowing reflects its ethical backbone. Supportive environments attract talent and build employee trust; retaliation, on the other hand, can damage morale and trigger legal action.
Operational Improvements: Whistleblowers don’t just uncover wrongdoing—they often point to systemic inefficiencies or unsafe practices that, when addressed, enhance performance and innovation.

CEO Libby Liu, an expert in press freedom and digital rights, leads Whistleblower Aid with a mission to ensure that truth-tellers are supported holistically—with legal representation, media strategy, advocacy planning, and emotional care. Founding legal partner Mark S. Zaid, a national security attorney with three decades of experience, co-founded the group to ensure whistleblowing is done lawfully and effectively.

In today’s complex business and political landscapes, truth and transparency matter more than ever. Whistleblower Aid empowers individuals to report wrongdoing without breaking the law—proving that doing the right thing can also be done the right way. For businesses, this isn’t just a legal issue—it’s a strategic one.

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