Whistleblowing has emerged as a key element of regulatory strategy. This article provides a brief, theoretical analysis of the claimed affinities between whistleblowing, self-regulation and corporate social responsibility. It then addresses a series of key issues in relation to whistleblowing: the individual, organisational and social characteristics associated with the decision to blow the whistle (or not); the consequences of reporting organisational harm for whistleblowers; and the robustness of legal protections for those who report such harm. Finally, it raises a series of challenges to the idea, reality and potential of whistleblowing as part of an effective self-regulatory strategy.
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