Public disclosure is being made in the interest of accountability, justice, and protection of the public good. It usually concerns serious wrongdoings by a governmental department or agency, including environmental contraventions, financial misconducts, mismanagement of public assets, and abuse of authority of office. When these wrongdoings are unchecked and parties involved are not held responsible for their actions, not only is the public trust breached, but the consequences of inactions of oversight authorities also set the tone for future recurrences of wrongdoings with greater risks.
When attempts to address these issues through internal and regulatory channels have failed, and appropriate corrective actions have not been taken, then public disclosure becomes the only right channel to address the wrongdoings and achieve the appropriate corrective actions. Public disclosures of wrongdoings are typically actions carried out in good faith with the sole intention of restoring public trust and protection of public interest.
Environmental violations pose high risks to ecosystems, public health, public safety and alter the psychosocial structure of the affected communities, and future generations. In some cases, the impact of the environmental pollution is far-reaching with great consequences and affecting multiple countries. Financial irregularities and misappropriation of public funds represent a breach of public trust, and a diversion of resources meant for community development. The consequences of such financial misconducts include but not limited to increase in community infrastructural deficit, reduction in the quality of life of residents, and a precedence for moral decadence.
The deliberate mismanagement of public property and infrastructure has resulted in significant loss of value, occurrence of safety risk incidents, and loss of lives. While abuse of office has enabled unchecked decision-making that undermines fairness, good governance, positive psychosocial structure within the organization and the community, and the rule of law.
Public disclosure is therefore necessary to uphold transparency, reduce or prevent corrupt practices, reduce or prevent criminal negligence, prevent further harm, and trigger independent investigation, justice, and systemic reforms. It is a lawful and ethical response to the systemic failure of oversight and accountability mechanisms. This action is not taken lightly, but as a last resort in defense of the environment, public resources, democratic integrity, systemic sanity, public health, public safety, good governance, competent leadership, public good and public interest.