“Everyone freaks out when the leaks are made”: data leaks, investigative journalism and intelligence practice
| Date | 04 July 2023 |
| Pages | 545-557 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-05-2023-0123 |
| Published date | 04 July 2023 |
| Author | Benjamin Scott |
“Everyone freaks out when the
leaks are made”: data leaks,
investigative journalism and
intelligence practice
Benjamin Scott
Independent Scholar, Sydney, Australia
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to examine the history of data leaks and investigative journalism, the
techniques and technology that enable them and their influence in Australia and abroad. It explores the
ethical and professional considerations of investigative journalists, how they approach privacy and
information-sharing and howthis differs from intelligence practice in government andindustry. The paper
assesses the strengths and limitations of Collaborative InvestigativeReporting based on Information Leaks
(CIRIL)as a kind of public-facing intelligence practice.
Design/methodology/approach –This study draws on academic literature, source material from
investigations by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and the Organised Crime and
CorruptionReporting Project, and a survey of financial crime compliance professionalsconducted in 2022.
Findings –The paper identifies three key causal factors that have enabled the rise of CIRIL even as
traditional journalism has declined: the digital storage of information; increasing public interest in offshore
finance and tax evasion; and “virtual newsrooms”enabledby internet communications. It concludes that the
primary strength of CIRIL is its creationof complex global narratives to inform the public about corruption
and tax evasion, while its key weaknessis that the scale and breadth of the data released makes it difficult to
focus on likely criminal activity.Results of a survey of industry and government professionals indicatethat
CIRIL is generally more effective as public information than as an investigative resource, owing to the
volume, age and quality of information released.However, the trends enabling CIRIL are likely to continue,
and this means that governments and financial institutionsneed to become more effective at using leaked
information.
Originality/value –Over the past decade, large-scale, data-driveninvestigative journalism projects such
as the Pandora Papers and the Russian Laundromathave had a significant public impact by exposing money
laundering, financial crime and corruption. These projects share certain hallmarks: the use of human
intelligence, often sourced fromanonymous leaks; inventive fusion of this intelligence with data from open
sources; and collaboration among a global collective of investigative journalists to build a narrative. These
projects prioritise informingthe public. They are also an important information source for government and
privatesector organisations working to investigate and disrupt financialcrime.
Keywords Banking, Journalism, Corruption, Intelligence, Financial crime, Money laundering
Paper type Research paper
Over the past decade, the issues of transnational corruption and tax evasion have risen in
the public consciousness. A major cause of this has been the seriesof leaks of financial data
from secrecy jurisdictions, published in the global media. The collaborative journalistic
projects which present these leaks to the world are a fairly recent development. However
they draw on older traditionsof investigative journalism. Investigative journalistsmake use
of human intelligence(HUMINT), building relationships of trust with anonymousinsiders to
get close to a story. In the pre-internet era, investigative journalism was a solitary craft, but
Intelligence
practice
545
Journalof Financial Crime
Vol.31 No. 3, 2024
pp. 545-557
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1359-0790
DOI 10.1108/JFC-05-2023-0123
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
https://www.emerald.com/insight/1359-0790.htm
Get this document and AI-powered insights with a free trial of vLex and Vincent AI
Get Started for FreeStart Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting
Start Your Free Trial of vLex and Vincent AI, Your Precision-Engineered Legal Assistant
-
Access comprehensive legal content with no limitations across vLex's unparalleled global legal database
-
Build stronger arguments with verified citations and CERT citator that tracks case history and precedential strength
-
Transform your legal research from hours to minutes with Vincent AI's intelligent search and analysis capabilities
-
Elevate your practice by focusing your expertise where it matters most while Vincent handles the heavy lifting