Takeaways from exposing corruption with data leaks: investigative journalists' perspective

Speakers: John Dell'Osso, Director of Investigations, Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) and Daniela Castro, South America editor, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

In today's session, three fascinating projects were discussed, each showcasing the power of data leaks in uncovering hidden networks of corruption and illicit activities: the Narcofiles project, the Congo Hold-up leak, and the Ethiopian government hack. The presenters shared valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of working with leaked data, highlighting the importance of understanding the context, carefully verifying information, and ensuring security throughout the investigative process.

This blog will bring the key takeaways from the presentations:

Data leaks and learnings from the Narcofiles project

• When working with leaked data the speaker mentioned to consider three important aspects: the amount and type of data, verification and corroboration, and security.

• Use the leaks as a starting point. They can contain partial, non-definitive, and non-exhaustive information.

• Corruption and money laundering are often difficult to prove, but there may be clues or red flags.

Natural resources, infrastructure and bribery in the Congo Hold-Up leak

• Corruption is typically concealed by its participants, but leaks give us a more level playing field when dealing with people who use cross-border webs of service providers to hide their tracks.
• Leaks are complicated and effectively using them is even more complicated without diligence, organization and creativity.
• To make profound discoveries in the Congo Hold-Up leak, the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) and its partners had to thoroughly understand not only the leak's content but also its technical elements.

A goal without a plan is just a wish: the curious case of an Ethiopian government hack

• We should try to see leaks as things to be diligently and actively studied, including the use of complementary external resources, and not some sort of self-contained set of clear answers.
• If you don't do the work you'll likely waste time, miss important information and ultimately come away empty-handed.
• The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF) used a fairly simple logical framework to evaluate a large leak in Ethiopia to find information in the public interest. This case was successful because they worked in an organized way, being diligent and creative.

The full recording of the presentation from the12 September Open data working group meeting is available here: