Whistleblower platform launched for public interest litigation

The Shanghai Municipal People’s Procuratorate on Wednesday launched a whistleblower platform for people to report matters that affect the public.

The WeChat-based app allows anyone with a mobile phone to upload video and photos of infringements. The platform is monitored by a team that forwards the reports to relevant departments. Whistleblowers can expect a response to the matter within five working days.

The evidence provided by the public would be used to help prosecutors investigate or file lawsuits against acts that affect the public, such as damage to the environment and resources, or food and drug safety infringements.

The right to institute public interest litigations was granted to prosecutors by the country’s top legislature in July 2017, when the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed amendments to civil and administrative procedure laws.

Since then, Shanghai prosecutors have investigated 295 cases of such matters, litigating 15 of them. About half of the cases are related to damage to environment and resources, and they contributed to compensation payments and fines totaling 8.6 million yuan ($1.5 million).

Lin Yiming, deputy director at the municipal procuratorate’s department for civil and administrative proceedings, said the evidence they received for public interest litigations mainly come from criminal or administrative cases or from media reports and the internet.

He hoped that the launch of the whistleblower platform will engage more individuals to be involved in the protection of public interest.