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Swiss whistleblower alerts increase by a third

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As of last year, suspicions can be reported anonymously via the online platform www.whistleblowing.admin.ch Keystone

A total of 122 alerts were received by the federal authorities in 2017, 44 more than the previous year. The increase has been attributed to the introduction of an online platform for reporting irregularities and corruption. 

In 43% of the cases, the denunciations concerned federal government employees and the remaining 57% were directed against outsiders, announced the Federal Audit Office on Saturday, confirming articles in the weekly publications Schweiz am Wochenende and the Südostschweiz am Wochenende. 

According to the papers, the majority of alerts involved suspicions of corruption, irregularities in the management or awarding of public contracts, or endangering national assets. 

As of June 2017, whistleblowers – both federal employees or private individuals – can report suspected irregularities on a dedicated online platformExternal link anonymously, securely and without furnishing proof. The only condition is not to breach the trust or obligation of diligence towards an employer, for example by communicating with the press.

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New online platform for anonymous tip-offs

This content was published on The whistleblowing platform announced on Thursday – available in German, French and Italian online at whistleblowing.admin.chExternal link – lets federal employees and taxpayers connect through a secure channel. “Its purpose: to exchange information anonymously, independently and securely between employees, suppliers, taxpayers and anyone who wants to improve the efficiency of the administration and fight fraud…

Read more: New online platform for anonymous tip-offs


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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR