World Whistleblower Day is celebrated today, June 23rd, representing a symbolic moment to reflect on the value of whistleblowing and the support we must ensure for those who report wrongdoing in the name of transparency and the public interest. It is a day to honor those who choose to speak up, as well as an opportunity to take stock of the progress made—especially in Italy—toward building a stronger and more encouraging system.
To mark the occasion, Transparency International Italy has published its Whistleblowing Report 2024, a key document for understanding the current state of whistleblowing in Italy and the regulatory and operational developments over the past year.
The annual report also highlights the organization’s work and its significant impact in making the whistleblowing system in Italy more efficient and in supporting whistleblowers throughout their journey.
The ALAC – Anti-Corruption Alert Service, managed by TI Italy to provide assistance to whistleblowers, continued its operations, receiving 15 reports over the course of the year. 2024 also saw the strengthening of the collaboration between ANAC (the National Anti-Corruption Authority) and Transparency International Italy, aimed at enhancing the quality of internal procedures and promoting best practices. It was an important step, but—as the report notes—it must be accompanied by stronger political and institutional commitment to make whistleblowing a truly protected and central tool in corruption prevention.
At the same time, the report notes increasing attention from the judiciary, with a significant number of rulings—civil, administrative, and criminal—that directly address the rights and protections of whistleblowers.
The report also presents data from the WhistleblowingIT project, carried out in collaboration with Whistleblowing Solutions Impresa Sociale. The year 2024 marked a period of consolidation following the adoption of the European transposition law, with continued significant growth in platform adoption across both the public and private sectors. By the end of 2024, a total of 5,730 organizations had joined the platform. Since December, over 200 new entities have joined, confirming the steady growth of participation in the project.
As an appendix to the WhistleblowingIT project section, a first monitoring effort was conducted and published, analyzing the application of whistleblowing regulations in a representative sample of 179 public administrations. Encouragingly, 84% of them had adopted a digital platform as a reporting channel. 44% did so through participation in the WhistleblowingIT project, while 27% opted for the GlobaLeaks software via other providers or self-installation. These figures are encouraging and validate the path taken and the usefulness of the project for the Italian public system.
In fact, the project is not just technological—it is also educational and organizational. Each participating entity receives not only a compliant and secure channel, but also tailored guidelines, operational support, and training. This integrated approach aims to transform whistleblowing from a legal obligation into a widespread culture, fostering the prevention of wrongdoing and protecting those who choose to report it.
The growing number of participants shows that more and more organizations—both public and private—recognize the value of a transparent, protected, and truly effective reporting channel.
On this day when we celebrate the role of whistleblowers in our society, WhistleblowingIT reminds us that, alongside legislation, we need effective tools and a shared journey to make whistleblowing a virtuous habit.
