Whistleblowers on Screen: 'Disclosure Day'
By the Constantine Cannon Whistleblower Team
Without disclosing too many spoilers here, we’re exploring how Steven Spielberg’s latest sci-fi thriller, Disclosure Day, tackles the importance of blowing the whistle and taking the time to listen to those who do. It also reminds us why it is critical to speak up if you think you have a case in the real world.
What is Disclosure Day?
Disclosure Day is a science-fiction film that follows cybersecurity expert Daniel Kellner and meteorologist Margaret Fairchild as they uncover a decades-long conspiracy involving extraterrestrial life and a powerful organization that concealed evidence from the public. Joined and assisted by whistleblowers and former insiders, Margaret and Daniel gear up to expose the cover-up. The plot builds toward a global broadcast called “Disclosure Day” where the world learns of the evidence of extraterrestrial life.
How Does Whistleblowing Relate to the Film?
The fictional whistleblowers in Disclosure Day are former insiders who expose a secret. Throughout the film, important issues and themes such as accountability, moral responsibility, and transparency are addressed. Putting aside the question of extraterrestrial life, whistleblowers are very real, indisputably important, and often address those same issues and themes.
In the real world, current and former insiders, such as employees, contractors, or anyone else with an inside view of illegal conduct, are often in the best position to blow the whistle, report misconduct, and provide valuable information to support enforcement efforts. Many times, that takes the form of a whistleblower (called a relator) filing a lawsuit under the False Claims Act, claiming an individual or an entity defrauded the government. The statute incentivizes and encourages whistleblowers to come forward. Under the False Claims Act, whistleblowers can be eligible to receive a share (up to 30%) of the government recovery.
Other laws and government programs similarly incentivize and encourage whistleblowers to report misconduct and assist in enforcement efforts. These include the SEC’s Whistleblower Reward Program for reporting violations of securities laws, the CFTC’s Whistleblower Reward Program for reporting violations of the Commodity Exchange Act, the IRS Whistleblower Reward Program for reporting tax fraud, and the relatively new DOJ Antitrust Whistleblower Rewards Program for reporting criminal antitrust violations such as price-fixing, bid-rigging, and market allocation schemes.
Our Firm Represents Whistleblowers
Our firm has significant experience representing whistleblowers. If you believe you have a case, please contact us to speak with an experienced member of the Constantine Cannon whistleblower team for a free, confidential consultation.
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