Editing Transparency International (section)

==Controversies==
According to the newspaper ''[[Le Monde]]'': "In its main surveys, Transparency International does not measure the weight of corruption in economic terms for each country. It develops a Corruption Perception Index (CPI) based on surveys conducted by private structures or other NGOs: the [[Economist Intelligence Unit]], backed by the British liberal weekly newspaper ''[[The Economist]]'', the American neoconservative organization [[Freedom House]], the [[World Economic Forum]], or large corporations. (...) The IPC ignores corruption cases that concern the business world. So, the collapse of [[Bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers|Lehman Brothers]] (2008) or the manipulation of the money market reference rate ([[Libor]]) by major British banks revealed in 2011 did not affect the ratings of the [[United States]] or [[United Kingdom]]." The organization also receives funding from companies that are themselves convicted of corruption offences.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mondiplo.com/quien-investiga-a-los-investigadores|title=" ¿Quién investiga a los investigadores? " - Le Monde diplomatique en español|website=mondiplo.com}}</ref> CPI's reliance on opinions of a relatively small group of experts and businesspeople, has been criticised by some. Alex Cobham, fellow at the [[Center for Global Development]], states that it "embeds a powerful and misleading elite bias in popular perceptions of corruption". Others argue it is not plausible to ever measure the true scale and depth of a highly complex issue like corruption with a single number, and then rank countries accordingly.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-12-03|title=Is Transparency International's measure of corruption still valid?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2013/dec/03/transparency-international-measure-corruption-valid|access-date=2021-10-08|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

===2013 attitude to Edward Snowden===
At its annual members' meeting in November 2013 in Berlin, TI's national chapters from Germany and Ireland proposed a resolution calling for the "end of the prosecution of [[Edward J. Snowden]]... He should be recognized as a [[whistleblower]] for his help to reveal the over-reaching and unlawful surveillance by secret services...He symbolizes the courage of numerous other whistleblowers around the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Snowden.pdf|title=Whistleblower protection of Edward Snowden|first1=TI|last1=Germany|first2=TI|last2=Ireland|date=10 February 2014|access-date=16 November 2018}}</ref>

The final resolution that was passed by the plenary excluded any reference to Snowden, and excluded a call for "comprehensive protection on whistleblowers from all forms of retaliation". The original resolution was weakened following the intervention of the USA chapter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/russell-mokhiber/transparency-internationa_b_4687986.html|title=Transparency International Nixes Edward Snowden|last1= Mokhiber|first1=Russell|website=[[HuffPost]]|date=10 February 2014|access-date=16 November 2018}}</ref> Five months earlier, in June 2013, representatives from TI met Snowden at the Moscow airport, where he asked for political asylum in Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-07-13 |title=С Россией заговорили на беглом американском |url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2233463 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=www.kommersant.ru |language=ru}}</ref>

===2014 funding from Siemens===
In January 2015 it was reported that TI accepted $3 million from the German engineering multinational [[Siemens]], which in 2008 paid one of the largest corporate corruption fines<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/business/worldbusiness/16siemens.html|title=Settling Bribery Case to Cost Siemens $1.6 Billion|first1=Eric|last1=Lichtblau|first2=Carter|last2=Dougherty|newspaper=The New York Times|date=15 December 2008}}</ref> in history – $1.6 billion – for bribing government officials in numerous countries. In 2014, Siemens made the donation to TI after pleading guilty in 2008 to bribery charges relating to widespread corrupt practices in Greece, Norway, Iraq, Vietnam, Italy, Israel, Argentina, Venezuela, China and Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2008/2008-294.htm|title=Press Release: SEC Charges Siemens AG for Engaging in Worldwide Bribery; 2008-294; Dec. 15, 2008|website=www.SEC.gov}}</ref>

TI applied for and received the funding from Siemens, even though TI's due diligence procedures<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/duediligence.pdf|title=Private-Sector Donors Approval and Due Diligence Processes}}</ref> prohibit the organization from accepting money from corporations that want to "[[greenwashing|greenwash]]" their reputations by making donations to TI. "If any corporate donor is accused of having been involved in corruption, the donor can expect no protection from TI," the procedures state. Transparency International received the funding from the ''Siemens Integrity Initiative''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siemens.com/about/sustainability/en/core-topics/collective-action/integrity-initiative/index.php|title=Integrity Initiative|website=www.siemens.com}}</ref> about a year after the ''Initiative'' hired former TI staffer Jana Mittermaier, raising questions of a "[[Revolving door (politics)|revolving door]]" that has benefited both the organization and the company.

Several of TI's national chapters also have accepted money from Siemens: $660,000 for TI USA, $600,000 for TI Italy, $450,000 for TI Bulgaria, and $230,000 for TI Mexico – each for a period of three years. "This really shows that Transparency International is not as pure as people think," a TI insider told Corporate Crime Reporter. TI's then managing director, [[Cobus de Swardt]], said, "We did not file an application to Siemens, we applied to the Siemens Integrity Initiative. There's a difference. We have not applied to Siemens." However, according to Siemens, the money for these grants is "provided by Siemens".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/transparency-international-siemens-revolving-door-spins-money-pipeline-flows/|title=Transparency International Siemens Revolving Door Spins, Money Pipeline Flows - Corporate Crime Reporter|date=11 February 2014|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/siemens-and-the-greenwashing-of-transparency-international/|title=Transparency International and the Greenwashing of Siemens - Corporate Crime Reporter|date=2 April 2014|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/siemens-donates-3-million-transparency-international/|title=Siemens Donates $3 Million to Transparency International - Corporate Crime Reporter|date=21 January 2015|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>

===2015 whistleblowing===
In August 2015 former TI staffer Anna Buzzoni went public regarding retaliation she and her colleagues faced after reporting to managers questionable financial dealings at TI's Water Integrity Network.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waterintegritynetwork.net/|title=Home page - WIN - Water Integrity Network|website=WIN - Water Integrity Network}}</ref> Two of Buzzoni's project responsibilities were suspended and she was transferred against her will. She left TI shortly before internal whistleblower guidelines were adopted in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://correctiv.org/en/blog/2015/08/27/falling-deaf-ears/|title=Falling on Deaf Ears|date=27 August 2015|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref>

===2015 Croatia chapter disaccreditation===
Due to a "lack of confidence", TI's chapter in [[Croatia]] was disaccredited by the organization's board of directors in November 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/transparency_international_statement_on_its_former_chapter_in_croatia|title=Press release - Transparency International statement on its former chapter in Croatia|first=Transparency International|last=e.V.|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> The previous year, several leaders of the Croatia chapter challenged the legality of the chapter president's election. The president was accused of falsifying records, [[conflicts of interest]], and arbitrarily expelling 10 chapter members who opposed the hiring of staff against the organization's rules. The Croatian government eventually revoked the president's appointment.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://seldi.net/fileadmin/public/PDF/Publications/RAR/SELDI_Regional_Anticorruption_Report_Final_Revised.pdf | title=Anti-Corruption Reloaded Assessment of Southeast Europe | publisher=Southeast Europe Leadership for Development and Integrity | date=2014 | editor=Ognian Shentov|editor2=Ruslan Stefanov|editor3=Boyko Todorov | isbn=978-954-477-221-5}}</ref>

===2017 USA chapter disaccreditation===
In January 2017, the TI Secretariat confirmed that its International Board of Directors decided on 10 January 2017 to strip its US affiliate – Transparency International USA – of its accreditation as the National Chapter in the United States.<ref name="auto1"/>
The stated basis for the dis-accreditation was the board's recognition of differences in philosophies, strategies, and priorities between the former chapter and the Transparency International Movement. Elsewhere, it was reported that TI-USA came to be seen in the United States as a corporate front group, funded by multinational corporations. TI-USA's funding was provided by [[Bechtel|Bechtel Corporation]], Deloitte, Google, [[Pfizer]]  ($50,000 or more), [[Citigroup]], ExxonMobil, Fluor, [[General Electric]], [[Lockheed Martin]], Marsh & McLennan, [[PepsiCo]], [[PricewaterhouseCoopers]], [[Raytheon Technologies|Raytheon]], Realogy, Tyco ($25,000–$49,999), and Freeport-McMoRan and [[Johnson & Johnson]] (up to $24,999).<ref name="corporatecrimereporter.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/transparency-international-strips-us-affiliate-of-accreditation/|title=Transparency International Strips United States Affiliate of Accreditation - Corporate Crime Reporter|date=19 January 2017}}</ref> TI-USA previously awarded an annual corporate leadership award to one of its big corporate funders. In 2016, this award went to Bechtel. In April 2015 the Secretariat defended the decision by TI-USA to give [[Hillary Clinton]] its Integrity Award in 2012.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.transparency.org/news/pressrelease/transparency_and_the_clinton_foundation_regarding_recent_statements|title=Transparency and The Clinton Foundation: Regarding recent statements|first=Transparency International|last=e.V.|access-date=16 November 2016}}</ref> Since January 1, 2020, Transparency International has an office in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.transparency.org/|title=Home|website=Transparency International}}</ref>

===2017–21 reports of bullying, harassment and abuse of power by Board members and senior management===
In 2017, [[Cobus de Swardt]] stood down as TI's managing director, following a dispute with the organisation's board of directors. De Swardt agreed a settlement with TI in a Labour Court in Berlin.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.transparency.org/en/press/statement-on-allegations-by-mr-de-swardt|title=Statement on allegations by Mr. de Swardt - Press|website=Transparency.org|date=11 October 2018 }}</ref>

In August 2019, accounts from seven current and former TI Secretariat staff were reported in ''[[The Guardian]]'' alleging a "toxic" workplace culture at the organisation.<ref name="Doshi">{{Cite news|last=Doshi|first=Vidhi|date=2019-08-21|title=Transparency International staff complain of bullying and harassment|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/aug/21/transparency-international-staff-complain-of-bullying-harassment|access-date=2019-11-12|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

De Swardt's successor, [[Patricia Moreira]], left in 2020 after making similar accusations to those of De Swardt, accusing the Board of failing to protect whistleblowers, as well as corruption.

The German newspaper ''[[Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung]]'' reported that TI dismissed Moreira "without giving any reasons".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Burras|first=Corrina|date=19 June 2020|title=Die dunklen Seiten der Korruptionsjagd|pages=1–3|work=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung|url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/transparency-international-die-dunklen-seiten-der-korruptionsjagd-16803895-p3.html|access-date=21 February 2022}}</ref> The article added that, "dozens of employees, including high-ranking ones, have left the organisation in recent years. Even long-standing and deeply committed employees complain that TI is involved in political intrigues in which some are only interested in their own progress. For a non-governmental organization whose goal is to fight corruption around the world, and which collects millions of dollars in funding from governments and companies every year, this is a disturbing finding."<ref>[https://m.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/transparency-international-die-dunklen-seiten-der-korruptionsjagd-16803895.html " Die dunklen Seiten der Korruptionsjard"], by Corinna Budras, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 7 June 2020</ref> Investigations specialist Harriet Witchell has stated that the TI board’s handling of the complaints process was beset by conflicts of interest and failed to address allegations of misconduct made against the board.<ref>{{cite web |last=Witchell |first=Harriet |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Review Concerning Investigation of Bullying Allegations by Transparency International in 2019/20 |url=https://ia601500.us.archive.org/30/items/review-investigation-transparency-international-2019-20/Review%20Investigation%20Transparency%20International%202019-20.pdf |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=MyKludo}}</ref>

In 2021, de Swardt published a book accusing TI of [[abuse of power]] and silencing whistleblowers.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-76540-8|title=Silencing a Whistleblower|first=Cobus|last=de Swardt|date=February 19, 2021|doi=10.1007/978-3-030-76540-8|isbn=978-3-030-76539-2 }}</ref> De Swardt also presented a video published on YouTube by his publisher, [[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]], criticising corruption at TI.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1je9wYQU0X4|title=Silencing a Whistleblower &#124; Authors @ Fbm21|date=4 October 2021 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

===Political activities in Brazil===
{{Disputed section |date=June 2024}}
TI's political impartiality, as well as its own transparency, have been called into question over hacked conversations of prosecutors in [[Operation Car Wash]], leaked to ''[[The Intercept]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theintercept.com/2020/03/12/united-states-justice-department-brazil-car-wash-lava-jato-international-treaty/|title="Keep It Confidential": The Secret History of U.S. Involvement in Brazil's Scandal-Wracked Operation Car Wash|first1=Andrew|last1=Fishman|first2=Natalia|last2=Viana|first3=Maryam|last3=Saleh|date=March 12, 2020|work=The Intercept}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://theintercept.com/2021/06/08/brazil-congress-car-wash-corruption-merrick-garland/|title=House Democrats Want Answers About U.S. Role in Disgraced Brazil Corruption Probe|first=Andrew|last=Fishman|date=June 8, 2021|work=The Intercept}}</ref> In these, chief prosecutor [[Deltan Dallagnol]] and head of TI Brazil, Bruno Brandão, discuss a "backstage campaign" to "disarm resistance on the left", fund selected candidates, and target others, seen as adversaries, using social media. Plans extended to preparing a series of false accusations ("denúncias sem materialidade") intended to damage the reputation of former president and potential candidate [[Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva]], and lead up to a chat in which participants celebrate the election of [[Jair Bolsonaro]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lava Jato debateu cláusula anti-Bolsonaro em ranking de candidatos em 2018|url=https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/2021/03/06/lava-jato-debateu-clausula-anti-bolsonaro-em-ranking-de-candidatos-em-2018|access-date=2021-03-09|website=CNN Brasil|language=pt-BR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Deltan e Transparência Internacional tentaram criar plataforma de candidatos lavajatistas|url=https://www.conjur.com.br/2021-mar-08/deltan-ong-tentaram-criar-plataforma-candidatos-lavajatistas|access-date=2021-03-09|website=Consultor Jurídico|date=9 March 2021 |language=pt-BR}}</ref>

In April 2022, Brazil's auditing court announced that it had opened an investigation against TI over the illegal imprisonment of Lula da Silva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.brasilwire.com/brazils-auditing-court-opens-investigation-against-transparency-international/|title=Transparency International: Brazil Court Opens Investigation Of Anti-Corruption NGO|last=Mier|first=Brian|date=April 14, 2022|work=Brasil Wire|access-date=April 14, 2022}}</ref>