2025 in focus
At the heart of The Signals Network work is a simple commitment: being ready when people need protection. In 2025, that commitment was tested more than ever, as the need for support grew significantly across regions and sectors.
When the need was clear
In 2025, TSN responded to 556 requests for support, a 268% increase compared to previous year. Behind this number are individuals facing retaliation, isolation and serious personal risk for speaking up. The scale of this growth shows just how urgent and broad the need for whistleblower support has become.
From requests to real support
Out of these requests, we provided direct support to 79 whistleblowers, a 97.5% increase from 2024. Each case required careful, tailored responses, often under intense time pressure and security constraints. While the numbers matter, the real impact lies in what this support made possible: safer decisions, stronger protections and moments of relief in highly stressful situations.
Across sectors and borders
The cases TSN supported in 2025 covered multiple sectors and regions, including the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia and The Middle East. They represented government (26%), healthcare (12%), tech and tech-AI (11%) and finance (9%) with the remaining cases in other sectors. This wide geographic and sectorial reach makes one thing clear. Whistleblower support is not a niche issue. It is needed everywhere, in every industry and under every government.
When impact is visible and when it must stay unseen
Much of our work can’t be shared publicly, as many whistleblowers remain anonymous or face personal and legal risks. One exception in 2025 was Victoria Flores case.
Victoria, a former commander at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, filed a whistleblower retaliation, wrongful termination, civil rights violation, and gender discrimination lawsuit against Sheriff Chad Bianco and other senior officials in July 2025. According to the lawsuit, Flores was retaliated against after repeatedly raising concerns about wrongful deaths and unconstitutional uses of force against inmates, many of whom suffered from mental illness. She also pushed back against efforts to cover up these incidents and failure to hold responsible personnel accountable for their actions. Flores also said she was retaliated against for raising concerns over inflated costs in the budget she was responsible for overseeing and other instances of corruption within the department.
Support did not mean encouraging publicity. It meant providing space to evaluate choices. The Signals Network helped Victoria establish secure communications, understand safe disclosure pathways, and prepare for what might follow if the information became public.
Thanks to this careful preparation, she was able to come forward publicly at a time when protections were fully in place. The case reached the public eye safely, focusing attention on the wrongdoing itself rather than on the personal risk faced.
While the impact of our work is clear in public cases like Victoria’s, most of what we do stays behind the scenes. We never put visibility above safety. Much of our effort goes unseen, yet every careful decision and moment of support makes a real difference. It is this unseen work that protects people, upholds justice and allows whistleblowers to speak out safely.
Building connection and sharing knowledge
In 2025, we focused on building a stronger global community around whistleblower protection. We joined several international events and gatherings, connecting with journalists, legal experts and partners around the world. These conversations and collaborations help us share knowledge, work better together and be ready to respond quickly when someone needs our support.
Looking ahead
The world in 2026 is shaping up to be more urgent and challenging than ever. Requests for support are rising and the cases we are seeing are riskier and more complex. Journalists and whistleblowers face increasing dangers and the need for immediate protection and support has never been higher. To keep people safe, we need to move fast. That means having more people ready to respond, strong and secure communication systems, and quick access to emergency relocation and legal support.
At the same time, there is hope. Every request we respond to, every person we protect, shows the difference that dedicated support and community care can make. Building on the lessons from 2025, we’re ready to meet the rising demand and act quickly when it matters most. In 2026, we will also launch a new training program for journalists to help them support sensitive sources safely and effectively, giving them the tools and guidance they need to protect the people they work with. With the continued support of our community, we can ensure that truth-tellers and whistleblowers have the protection, guidance and resources they need, proving that even in a dangerous world, positive change is possible.
Make 2026 safer for journalists and whistleblowers. Join us by supporting our work and help keep truth-tellers safe.
