The effectiveness of a whistleblowing programme is ultimately measured by whether people use it and digital reporting has increased the likelihood of participation.
A system that exists on paper but receives no reports is not a sign of a misconduct-free organisation – it is a sign of a programme that has failed to earn the trust or accessibility needed to encourage people to come forward. Digital reporting channels have fundamentally changed the equation, and the available research helps explain why.
The Shift Towards Digital Channels
The evidence for a structural shift towards digital reporting is now clear across multiple independent studies. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2024 Report to the Nations, analysing over 1,900 cases in 138 countries, found that web-based reporting mechanisms (40%) have overtaken telephone hotlines (30%) as the most common method for submitting fraud tips – the first time digital channels have led in the study’s history. By comparison, in 2020 the three main channels were used in roughly equal proportions.
This shift reflects broader changes in how people communicate. Digital channels are available around the clock, can be accessed from any device with an internet connection, and allow reporters to compose their account at their own pace. For someone deciding whether to report a serious concern – often at a moment of significant personal anxiety – the ability to draft, review and submit a report without the time pressure of a live conversation lowers the barrier to participation considerably.
Anonymity as a Participation Driver
Research consistently identifies fear of retaliation as the primary barrier to whistleblowing. Digital channels address this directly by enabling truly anonymous reporting – where the reporter’s identity is not captured by the system – in a way that telephone calls, emails or in-person disclosures find harder to guarantee.
The ACFE data shows that anonymous tips accounted for 15% of all fraud reports, and that organisations with anonymous reporting hotlines experienced fraud losses that were 50% smaller than those without. This strongly suggests that the availability of anonymity does not simply increase the volume of reports – it increases the likelihood that serious misconduct is uncovered before losses escalate.
Protect, the UK’s leading whistleblowing charity, has observed related trends. Its 2025 Impact Report recorded 3,589 cases – an 8% year-on-year increase – with the charity noting that a significant proportion of callers had already attempted to raise concerns internally before seeking external support. This suggests that where internal channels do not inspire confidence, people look for alternatives. Digital channels, particularly those operated by an independent external provider, offer a credible alternative that keeps the report within the organisation’s governance framework rather than losing it to an external regulator or the media.
Reaching a Wider and More Diverse Workforce
Digital reporting extends the reach of a whistleblowing programme to employees who might not otherwise participate. Multilingual web portals remove language barriers for international workforces. Mobile-accessible platforms enable frontline workers – in retail, construction, logistics or care settings – to report concerns from their own devices without needing access to a workplace computer. The 24/7 availability of digital channels means reports can be submitted outside working hours, in private, and without the risk of being overheard.
The Freshfields Whistleblowing Survey 2023, conducted across five jurisdictions, found that the proportion of employees who would report concerns to their direct line manager has declined – from 46% in 2020 to 40% in 2023. At the same time, involvement in whistleblowing in some capacity has increased significantly. This divergence suggests that while willingness to speak up is growing, employees are increasingly choosing channels that offer independence from their immediate management chain. Digital reporting platforms operated by external providers sit precisely in this space.
Digital Does Not Mean Telephone Is Obsolete
The research also carries an important caveat. While digital channels now lead by volume, telephone reporting remains essential for a substantial proportion of the workforce. Safecall’s own Whistleblowing Benchmark Report 2024 found that one in three reporters still prefer to report concerns by telephone. More significantly, the data showed that 22.7% more reporters chose to give their name when speaking to a call handler than when using written channels – indicating that the trust and reassurance provided by a live conversation with a trained professional encourages greater openness.
This finding has important implications for programme design. Digital channels improve overall participation by lowering accessibility barriers and enabling anonymity. But telephone channels – particularly those staffed by professionals with investigative interviewing expertise – generate reports that are more detailed, more likely to include the reporter’s identity, and therefore more actionable. The highest-performing whistleblowing programmes offer both, allowing reporters to choose the channel that suits their circumstances and comfort level.
What the Research Means for Compliance Officers
The available evidence points to several practical conclusions for organisations seeking to improve whistleblowing participation:
- Digital reporting channels should be a core component of any whistleblowing programme, not an optional supplement to a telephone-only service.
- Anonymous reporting must be available and clearly communicated – the ACFE data demonstrates its direct impact on fraud detection outcomes.
- Telephone channels remain critical, particularly for complex concerns and for workforces that value the reassurance of human interaction.
- External operation of reporting channels increases participation by addressing the trust deficit that internal management-led systems face.
- Accessibility across languages, devices and time zones extends the programme’s reach to the full workforce, not just office-based employees.
Participation is not a fixed characteristic of a workforce. It is a direct reflection of how well the reporting infrastructure has been designed, communicated and maintained. Digital channels do not replace the need for a supportive organisational culture, but they provide the accessible, confidential and trusted infrastructure without which even the strongest culture cannot translate willingness into action.
Related Resources
- Whistleblowing Technology & Channels Hub – Overview of reporting channels and technology selection.
- Are External Whistleblowing Channels More Trusted by Employees? – Research on trust, independence and reporting preferences.
- How Can Organisations Ensure Transparency in Reporting Channels? – Building the trust that drives participation.
- How Can Whistleblowing Channels Help Address Systemic Workplace Issues? – How increased participation generates better organisational insight.
How Safecall Can Help
Safecall’s multi-channel service is designed to maximise reporting participation. Our secure online portal provides 24/7 digital access in over 175 languages, while our telephone hotline – staffed by former UK police officers with more than 25 years’ interview experience each – offers the human interaction that generates the most detailed, actionable reports. With ISO 27001 certification, UK data residency and a 95% client retention rate, Safecall delivers the accessibility and trust that effective whistleblowing participation requires.
To discuss how Safecall can help improve reporting participation in your organisation, contact our team or call +44 (0) 191 516 7720.
Sources and Further Reading
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Occupational Fraud 2024: A Report to the Nations – tip detection rates, channel preferences, anonymous reporting impact – acfe.com
- Protect (UK whistleblowing charity), 2025 Impact Report – 3,589 cases, year-on-year trends – protect-advice.org.uk
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Whistleblowing Survey 2023 – five-jurisdiction study on reporting preferences and participation – blog.freshfields.us
- Safecall, Whistleblowing Benchmark Report 2024 – channel preferences, telephone vs written reporting, reporter identification rates – safecall.co.uk
- EU Directive 2019/1937 on the Protection of Persons Who Report Breaches of Union Law – eur-lex.europa.eu