As investigative journalists focusing on climate change and other attacks on the environment, it is our job to hold people and institutions to account. This requires evidence, and documents or insider accounts are an important part of that. We’re constantly on the lookout for them.
There are numerous examples of corporate or government insiders who observe wrongdoing and feel a responsibility to speak out. If you are one such insider, someone who has seen something that troubles you, someone who believes it is their patriotic duty to expose an abuse or violation of the law, it’s important to know how to safely bring this information to the attention of journalists like us.
We’re keen to hear from anyone – scientists, civil servants, etc. – who wishes to pass us, anonymously or otherwise, a tip-off, message or document of interest. We will expose serious wrongdoing, such as corruption, political intimidation/interference and data suppression, if the information we receive can be verified and it is in the public interest to do so.
How to Contact Us
General story tips can always be sent to [email protected].
Most of us also have a PGP key which you can find here; using this key will allow you to send us encrypted email. You can find out more about how PGP encryption works in this guide.
It’s important to remember, however, that while using PGP email encryption means your messages are scrambled (meaning the information cannot be read by other parties) your email address is not. Only the body of the email is securely protected with PGP; the metadata information about who you are communicating with, and when, is not protected and can be seen by anyone who gains access to your email.
A few steps you can take to help keep your identity secure and anonymous include using an alternative, newly created web-based email address and connecting from an IP address other than your home or work, e.g. a coffee shop or internet cafe.
While email is often convenient, if your information is sensitive there are better options. And remember that, ultimately, anything sent electronically cannot be considered 100 percent private.
You can send us information securely and anonymously via this web link: http://www.climatedocleaks.com/
But the best way to reach us anonymously and securely is via good old fashioned snail mail. The safest way to maintain your anonymity is to mail your letter or package without a return address and from an unfamiliar mailbox in a different neighbourhood rather than your local post office. Be careful, however, not to print out any documents at your workplace as this might leave a digital trail.
Our mailing address:
DeSmog UK
PO Box 71644
London
E17 0SN
Want more information?
When it comes to communicating securely and sending sensitive information it’s important to consider the risks involved and whether the public will benefit from the information should it be exposed. There are steps that need to be taken by both those exposing the information and the journalists receiving it. While we cannot provide legal advice, if you want to read up more about best practice and how to help protect yourself, the following articles are a good place to start:
An Introduction to Public Key Cryptography and PGP
Republic Report: After Comey: How To Be a Patriotic Insider
Errata Security: How the Intercept Outed Reality Winner
