Observer whistleblower platform now allows anonymous communication
Sichermelden.ch, *Der Beobachter*’s whistleblower platform, now offers tipsters the opportunity to communicate with the editorial team completely anonymously. *Der Beobachter* is the first Swiss media company to use this technology.
Since the Beobachter launched the whistleblower platform Sichermelden.ch in June 2011, around 2,400 reports have been received by the editorial team. Seven years ago, the Beobachter thus closed a gap for all those whistleblowers who had no way of confidentially reporting their reports of wrongdoing in their company, organization or authority to a company-internal office. With the encrypted platform, the Observer has since guaranteed security and absolute discretion for whistleblowers.
However, the previous system had the disadvantage that editors of the Observer could not get in touch with anonymous tipsters. Thus, it was often not possible to verify the uploaded information or to make inquiries about it. As a result, research into many interesting tips led nowhere.
With the relaunch of Sichermelden.ch this restriction will no longer apply. Now, members of the Observer's editorial team can also contact those whistleblowers who do not leave an e-mail address or telephone number. This is made possible by an encrypted mailbox. A system from the Zurich-based company Integrityline, which has so far been used primarily by banks and administrative offices, is used for this purpose. The Beobachter is the first Swiss media company to offer this advanced technology to protect whistleblowers.
