Decoder with Nilay Patel Recode Decode: Whistleblower Aid CEO John Tye
Sep 25, 2019
John Napier Tye, founder and CEO of Whistleblower Aid, discusses the vital role of whistleblowers in exposing corruption both in government and at private organizations. He shares insights on high-profile cases, including those involving MIT and President Trump’s phone call with Ukraine. Tye highlights the challenges whistleblowers face, including retaliation and legal complexities, while emphasizing the need for protective measures and secure communication. He also reflects on the evolving nature of whistleblowing in the digital age and its essential contribution to democracy.
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MIT & Epstein
- Whistleblower Aid assisted MIT professor Ethan Zuckerman and whistleblower Signe Swenson.
- Swenson, a former MIT Media Lab development officer, revealed MIT's cover-up of Jeffrey Epstein's funding.
Snowden Leaks & State Department
- John Tye, founder of Whistleblower Aid, worked at the State Department during the Snowden leaks.
- He wasn't surprised by the leaks, having suspected the extent of US government surveillance.
Tye's Whistleblowing Experience
- Tye blew the whistle on NSA's use of Executive Order 12333 to collect American data.
- He legally published his findings in The Washington Post after pre-publication review.