Whistleblowers: The New Front Line in Privacy Enforcement

Whistleblowers have long been instrumental in helping law enforcement uncover and prosecute legal violations, including within the technology sector. Now, their role in privacy enforcement is poised to expand, including under California’s proposed Whistleblower Protection and Privacy Act (AB 2021). Laws like this will open a significant new enforcement front by giving whistleblowers an incentive to step forward and will equip regulators with insider information about complex, non-public business practices.

This panel brings together seasoned practitioners who have represented the government, whistleblowers and corporations. They will offer a 360-degree view of this emerging frontier in enforcement.  Panelists will examine the historic role of whistleblowers, explore emerging frameworks such as California’s proposed whistleblower law, and examine what expanded whistleblower protections could mean for privacy enforcement and corporate governance strategies. The nuts and bolts of whistleblower actions will be explained, as will strategies for bringing, managing and responding to whistleblower complaints.

What you will learn:

• The role of whistleblowers in the technology sector and the rationale for expanding their use in privacy enforcement.
• The anatomy of whistleblower action, including how the government evaluates claims and how these actions differ from traditional litigation.
• Practical insights about strategies for bringing and responding to whistleblower claims and how to avoid common missteps.