Ethics Newsline®

WASHINGTON
A new website, endorsed by a variety of multinational firms, provides a mechanism for companies and individuals to report bribery and corruption.

Bribeline.org, created by a Maryland nonprofit group, allows anyone to report incidents of suspected graft in the United States or overseas, reports the Reuters news agency.

The tip line is supported by a variety of firms that do business abroad, including Wal-Mart, Tyco, and UPS, according to a report from the Associated Press.

Via a secure, multilingual website, company employees can anonymously report any bribe demands. According to the Times of London, no names are used, and the information is not intended for use by law enforcement officials.

Instead, the data will be used to map out the worst offenders among local officials, government ministries, police departments, and international organizations.

The organization sponsoring the website, Trace International, will not attempt to verify the information and acknowledges that there is a risk of false information being posted, although the group’s president says she believes the risk of malicious reporting is low, according to the Australian Age.