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Confidential details of bribes are being collected by a corporate-led project to give an account of corruption trends in business.
An online database, Business Registry for International Bribery and Extortion, or BRIBEline, enables executives to anonymously report bribes offered to them by ‘official or quasi-official entities’ – such as governments, international organizations, security forces and state-owned enterprises – in the course of their business dealings. Details will be logged and a report published annually. However, the service will not cover business-to-business bribes.
The site has been set up by Trace, a US-based non-profit group set up by multinational companies. Visitors are asked nine short questions, including what was the subject of the bribe, in which country, what kind of official asked for it, and whether the request was for cash or payment in kind. Those offering information are not asked for their identity, nor to name who demanded the bribe or whether it was paid. Information collected will not be used to initiate legal or investigative action.
Michelle Gavin, director of Trace, acknowledged that the information from reporters is unverifiable and might, in some cases, be deliberately false, but expects ‘[the reports] in aggregate to paint a useful picture’. Trace believes the data will ‘shine a spotlight on trouble spots so that they might be improved’ and allow companies to manage risk better in certain regions and businesses. More than 1000 reports of bribes were made in the first month, covering activity in about 100 countries.
A recent GoodCorporation study found anti-bribery practices were the weakest link in companies’ responsibility programmes. The analysis of CSR-related practices in 230 firms measuring themselves against the GoodCorporation standard found those on bribery were the most lacking.
Siemens was fined €201million ($285m, £143m) last month by a court in Munich over a bribery scandal at its telecoms unit. The German conglomerate accepted ‘full responsibility’. It is also being investigated by other regulators, including the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
An online database, Business Registry for International Bribery and Extortion, or BRIBEline, enables executives to anonymously report bribes offered to them by ‘official or quasi-official entities’ – such as governments, international organizations, security forces and state-owned enterprises – in the course of their business dealings. Details will be logged and a report published annually. However, the service will not cover business-to-business bribes.
The site has been set up by Trace, a US-based non-profit group set up by multinational companies. Visitors are asked nine short questions, including what was the subject of the bribe, in which country, what kind of official asked for it, and whether the request was for cash or payment in kind. Those offering information are not asked for their identity, nor to name who demanded the bribe or whether it was paid. Information collected will not be used to initiate legal or investigative action.
Michelle Gavin, director of Trace, acknowledged that the information from reporters is unverifiable and might, in some cases, be deliberately false, but expects ‘[the reports] in aggregate to paint a useful picture’. Trace believes the data will ‘shine a spotlight on trouble spots so that they might be improved’ and allow companies to manage risk better in certain regions and businesses. More than 1000 reports of bribes were made in the first month, covering activity in about 100 countries.
A recent GoodCorporation study found anti-bribery practices were the weakest link in companies’ responsibility programmes. The analysis of CSR-related practices in 230 firms measuring themselves against the GoodCorporation standard found those on bribery were the most lacking.
Siemens was fined €201million ($285m, £143m) last month by a court in Munich over a bribery scandal at its telecoms unit. The German conglomerate accepted ‘full responsibility’. It is also being investigated by other regulators, including the US Securities and Exchange Commission.Super Featured
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