Chapter 3 : The whistleblowers

Abstract

to alert consists in informing about a danger in order to avoid any aggravation.When health or environment public authorities submit such an alert, it isn’tquestioned nor subject to a problem of legitimacy. However, the state does nothave the exclusive right to watch, and whistleblower alerts are more and moreoften submitted by citizens who attempt to disclose public interest information.the legal protection of these alerts by citizens is not clear so these unusualdenunciations need to be legally framed. the issue is very important since humanbody infringement is at stake. thus, it is necessary to acknowledgewhistleblowers an individual right to alert, depending on who the information isaddressed to. individuals have a right to alert the population on behalf of thefreedom of expression which gives everyone the chance to enrich public debateswithin the limits of abuse. but, sometimes, they have to do it, so that the alert canbe regarded as the fulfillment of a duty of citizens that allows them to participatein the defense of public interest.