who doesn’t have stacks of paper in their house I do I tell myself that I
their house I do I tell myself that I
their house I do I tell myself that I can find my way in my own mess and that
can find my way in my own mess and that
can find my way in my own mess and that if I need any of those papers I will
if I need any of those papers I will
if I need any of those papers I will just go and find them and if I don’t
just go and find them and if I don’t
just go and find them and if I don’t need them then it means they’re not
need them then it means they’re not
need them then it means they’re not important but how do I know they are not
important but how do I know they are not
important but how do I know they are not important if I don’t know what’s in each
important if I don’t know what’s in each
important if I don’t know what’s in each of them word by word I’m a journalist
of them word by word I’m a journalist
of them word by word I’m a journalist and as part of my job I also collect
and as part of my job I also collect
and as part of my job I also collect stacks of papers from public sources or
stacks of papers from public sources or
stacks of papers from public sources or whistleblowers and my colleagues do the
whistleblowers and my colleagues do the
whistleblowers and my colleagues do the same these are some of the messiest
same these are some of the messiest
same these are some of the messiest journalists desks I could find Florida
journalists desks I could find Florida
journalists desks I could find Florida New York Japan paper is all around
New York Japan paper is all around
New York Japan paper is all around journalists some reporters are organized
journalists some reporters are organized
journalists some reporters are organized though like this colleague from
though like this colleague from
though like this colleague from Argentina but even if he’s organized
Argentina but even if he’s organized
Argentina but even if he’s organized when he’s done with a story he moves on
when he’s done with a story he moves on
when he’s done with a story he moves on to the next one and then that’s give
to the next one and then that’s give
to the next one and then that’s give Rico what’s on those papers word by word
Rico what’s on those papers word by word
Rico what’s on those papers word by word probably not even in the digital world
probably not even in the digital world
probably not even in the digital world we live in today where most of the
we live in today where most of the
we live in today where most of the documents we deal with are electronic
documents we deal with are electronic
documents we deal with are electronic when we run out of storage in our
when we run out of storage in our
when we run out of storage in our computers what we normally do is we dump
computers what we normally do is we dump
computers what we normally do is we dump the documents in a backup Drive and then
the documents in a backup Drive and then
the documents in a backup Drive and then that’s basically the digital equivalent
that’s basically the digital equivalent
that’s basically the digital equivalent to the stacks of paper to make sense of
to the stacks of paper to make sense of
to the stacks of paper to make sense of the future and connect the dots
the future and connect the dots
the future and connect the dots journalists need to archive their
journalists need to archive their
journalists need to archive their documents and share them and we’re not
documents and share them and we’re not
documents and share them and we’re not doing it we normally think of archives
doing it we normally think of archives
doing it we normally think of archives as places where we store public records
as places where we store public records
as places where we store public records and historical materials the files are
and historical materials the files are
and historical materials the files are catalogued and stored in a way that
catalogued and stored in a way that
catalogued and stored in a way that makes it very easy to search them later
makes it very easy to search them later
makes it very easy to search them later maybe decades later and newspapers are
maybe decades later and newspapers are
maybe decades later and newspapers are normally archived let’s think in the
normally archived let’s think in the
normally archived let’s think in the same way about the documents we collect
same way about the documents we collect
same way about the documents we collect when reporting the articles that end up
when reporting the articles that end up
when reporting the articles that end up in those newspapers let’s let’s create
in those newspapers let’s let’s create
in those newspapers let’s let’s create archives of those files so that we can
archives of those files so that we can
archives of those files so that we can retrieve the knowledge later the need to
retrieve the knowledge later the need to
retrieve the knowledge later the need to do this is much greater in the Big Data
do this is much greater in the Big Data
do this is much greater in the Big Data era
era
era the number of documents and data the
the number of documents and data the
the number of documents and data the journalists are collecting is growing at
journalists are collecting is growing at
journalists are collecting is growing at a very fast pace in the famous pentagon
a very fast pace in the famous pentagon
a very fast pace in the famous pentagon papers back in the late 60s the
papers back in the late 60s the
papers back in the late 60s the whistleblower had to make photocopies of
whistleblower had to make photocopies of
whistleblower had to make photocopies of the 7,000 page report on the Vietnam War
the 7,000 page report on the Vietnam War
the 7,000 page report on the Vietnam War before giving it to the journalists in
before giving it to the journalists in
before giving it to the journalists in the Watergate scandal in the early 70s
the Watergate scandal in the early 70s
the Watergate scandal in the early 70s the Washington Post reporters had to
the Washington Post reporters had to
the Washington Post reporters had to physically meet with deep throat the
physically meet with deep throat the
physically meet with deep throat the source in a parking garage
source in a parking garage
source in a parking garage to preserve his anonymity in the digital
to preserve his anonymity in the digital
to preserve his anonymity in the digital age
age
age anybody can leak to a journalist from
anybody can leak to a journalist from
anybody can leak to a journalist from anywhere in the world without ever
anywhere in the world without ever
anywhere in the world without ever meeting in person one of the first times
meeting in person one of the first times
meeting in person one of the first times were we realized the potential of this
were we realized the potential of this
were we realized the potential of this was in an investigation called Cablegate
was in an investigation called Cablegate
was in an investigation called Cablegate it happened in 2010 it was done by
it happened in 2010 it was done by
it happened in 2010 it was done by WikiLeaks who partnered with several
WikiLeaks who partnered with several
WikiLeaks who partnered with several media organizations including the New
media organizations including the New
media organizations including the New York Times to investigate a document
York Times to investigate a document
York Times to investigate a document dump of documents that expose the inner
dump of documents that expose the inner
dump of documents that expose the inner dealings of the US diplomatic service
dealings of the US diplomatic service
dealings of the US diplomatic service but the scale of things blew up last
but the scale of things blew up last
but the scale of things blew up last year in the latest investigation I
year in the latest investigation I
year in the latest investigation I worked in the Panama papers it was a
worked in the Panama papers it was a
worked in the Panama papers it was a leak of 2.6 terabytes which amounted to
leak of 2.6 terabytes which amounted to
leak of 2.6 terabytes which amounted to 11.5 million files and at the time was
11.5 million files and at the time was
11.5 million files and at the time was the biggest leak
the biggest leak
the biggest leak in journalism history it all started
in journalism history it all started
in journalism history it all started with a message from an anonymous source
with a message from an anonymous source
with a message from an anonymous source to my colleague Bastian Obermeyer in
to my colleague Bastian Obermeyer in
to my colleague Bastian Obermeyer in Germany and the message said hello
Germany and the message said hello
Germany and the message said hello interested in data these big document
interested in data these big document
interested in data these big document leaks are not just affecting
leaks are not just affecting
leaks are not just affecting investigative journalism where we have
investigative journalism where we have
investigative journalism where we have the time and we have the resources to
the time and we have the resources to
the time and we have the resources to slowly look into the documents in the
slowly look into the documents in the
slowly look into the documents in the current political environment we’re seen
current political environment we’re seen
current political environment we’re seen a record number of leaks and document
a record number of leaks and document
a record number of leaks and document dumps it’s affecting our daily routines
dumps it’s affecting our daily routines
dumps it’s affecting our daily routines add to that oh the public records we
add to that oh the public records we
add to that oh the public records we collect the public databases free of
collect the public databases free of
collect the public databases free of information requires social media data
information requires social media data
information requires social media data and what concerns me is that we haven’t
and what concerns me is that we haven’t
and what concerns me is that we haven’t yet found a way to deal with such a big
yet found a way to deal with such a big
yet found a way to deal with such a big an overwhelming amount of information
an overwhelming amount of information
an overwhelming amount of information this is a recipe for disaster
the good news I have good news I think
the good news I have good news I think we’re in time to prevent this disaster
we’re in time to prevent this disaster
we’re in time to prevent this disaster from happening
from happening
from happening journalism Ville doesn’t have nearly as
journalism Ville doesn’t have nearly as
journalism Ville doesn’t have nearly as much money as other industries who are
much money as other industries who are
much money as other industries who are facing the same issues such as big
facing the same issues such as big
facing the same issues such as big corporations governments or criminals so
corporations governments or criminals so
corporations governments or criminals so we need to think outside of the box if
we need to think outside of the box if
we need to think outside of the box if we want to keep being the watchdogs of
we want to keep being the watchdogs of
we want to keep being the watchdogs of democracy when my colleague Bastian
democracy when my colleague Bastian
democracy when my colleague Bastian received the Panama papers data he
received the Panama papers data he
received the Panama papers data he didn’t keep it to himself like most
didn’t keep it to himself like most
didn’t keep it to himself like most journalists would have done he and his
journalists would have done he and his
journalists would have done he and his newspaper in Germany saw that the
newspaper in Germany saw that the
newspaper in Germany saw that the universe of data they were dealing with
universe of data they were dealing with
universe of data they were dealing with was too big and complex for them to
was too big and complex for them to
was too big and complex for them to handle so they decided to share it with
handle so they decided to share it with
handle so they decided to share it with the nonprofit organization I worked with
the nonprofit organization I worked with
the nonprofit organization I worked with at the time
at the time
at the time the international consortium of
the international consortium of
the international consortium of investigative journalists we sub
investigative journalists we sub
investigative journalists we sub connections in these data to more than
connections in these data to more than
connections in these data to more than 200 countries so in their radical move
200 countries so in their radical move
200 countries so in their radical move we shared all the files with almost 400
we shared all the files with almost 400
we shared all the files with almost 400 journalists in about 80 countries my
journalists in about 80 countries my
journalists in about 80 countries my team of engineers made all these files
team of engineers made all these files
team of engineers made all these files searchable in a secure website that
searchable in a secure website that
searchable in a secure website that could be accessed from anywhere in the
could be accessed from anywhere in the
could be accessed from anywhere in the world at any point in time the files
world at any point in time the files
world at any point in time the files expose the offshore system like never
expose the offshore system like never
expose the offshore system like never before they reveal a parallel economy
before they reveal a parallel economy
before they reveal a parallel economy that is being used by the rich and the
that is being used by the rich and the
that is being used by the rich and the powerful for purposes like evading taxes
powerful for purposes like evading taxes
powerful for purposes like evading taxes there were celebrities billionaires
there were celebrities billionaires
there were celebrities billionaires there were politicians and of course
there were politicians and of course
there were politicians and of course criminals in the leak they were all
criminals in the leak they were all
criminals in the leak they were all using the same law firm with
using the same law firm with
using the same law firm with headquarters in Panama sharing is not
headquarters in Panama sharing is not
headquarters in Panama sharing is not the natural step for a journalist when
the natural step for a journalist when
the natural step for a journalist when we collect documents or wicked leaks
we collect documents or wicked leaks
we collect documents or wicked leaks these allow us to have scoops in our
these allow us to have scoops in our
these allow us to have scoops in our newspapers and have exclusive stories in
newspapers and have exclusive stories in
newspapers and have exclusive stories in the front page so it gives us an added
the front page so it gives us an added
the front page so it gives us an added value inside of our organizations added
value inside of our organizations added
value inside of our organizations added value as a journalist
value as a journalist
value as a journalist it’s our intellectual property so that’s
it’s our intellectual property so that’s
it’s our intellectual property so that’s exactly what you don’t want to share
exactly what you don’t want to share
exactly what you don’t want to share with your competitors but Siri was the
with your competitors but Siri was the
with your competitors but Siri was the only way for us to deal with such a big
only way for us to deal with such a big
only way for us to deal with such a big amount of information of course when you
amount of information of course when you
amount of information of course when you share with so many people there’s one
share with so many people there’s one
share with so many people there’s one risk and the risk is that somebody
risk and the risk is that somebody
risk and the risk is that somebody reveals the secret ahead of time we use
reveals the secret ahead of time we use
reveals the secret ahead of time we use technology to
technology to
technology to he keep us in touch regularly and we had
he keep us in touch regularly and we had
he keep us in touch regularly and we had our own social networking platform so
our own social networking platform so
our own social networking platform so technology helped but in the end it was
technology helped but in the end it was
technology helped but in the end it was all about human trust and we had to take
all about human trust and we had to take
all about human trust and we had to take a leap of faith and you know what it
a leap of faith and you know what it
a leap of faith and you know what it worked and we kept the secret for a year
worked and we kept the secret for a year
worked and we kept the secret for a year and the impact was unprecedented
and the impact was unprecedented
and the impact was unprecedented the reporters behind the Panama papers
the reporters behind the Panama papers
the reporters behind the Panama papers published more than 4,700 stories the
published more than 4,700 stories the
published more than 4,700 stories the prime minister of Iceland resigned the
prime minister of Iceland resigned the
prime minister of Iceland resigned the Prime Minister of Pakistan was ousted
Prime Minister of Pakistan was ousted
Prime Minister of Pakistan was ousted from office there were police raids and
from office there were police raids and
from office there were police raids and arrests around the world less than a
arrests around the world less than a
arrests around the world less than a year after the publication of the Panama
year after the publication of the Panama
year after the publication of the Panama papers we accounted for at least a
papers we accounted for at least a
papers we accounted for at least a hundred and fifty investigations in 79
hundred and fifty investigations in 79
hundred and fifty investigations in 79 countries we got the Pulitzer Prize the
countries we got the Pulitzer Prize the
countries we got the Pulitzer Prize the highest recognition in journalism and
highest recognition in journalism and
highest recognition in journalism and sharing made all these possible one
sharing made all these possible one
sharing made all these possible one journalist could not have achieved all
journalist could not have achieved all
journalist could not have achieved all this alone maybe it’s time we reframe
this alone maybe it’s time we reframe
this alone maybe it’s time we reframe how we look at sharing we didn’t just
how we look at sharing we didn’t just
how we look at sharing we didn’t just want to share with journalists we wanted
want to share with journalists we wanted
want to share with journalists we wanted to give investigative power to the
to give investigative power to the
to give investigative power to the people
people
people but for source protection and privacy
but for source protection and privacy
but for source protection and privacy issues we couldn’t just dump all the
issues we couldn’t just dump all the
issues we couldn’t just dump all the documents on the internet so we created
documents on the internet so we created
documents on the internet so we created a searchable database with the hundreds
a searchable database with the hundreds
a searchable database with the hundreds of thousands of names of companies in
of thousands of names of companies in
of thousands of names of companies in tax havens and the people behind them
tax havens and the people behind them
tax havens and the people behind them and this database has been used by
and this database has been used by
and this database has been used by millions of people and is regularly
millions of people and is regularly
millions of people and is regularly being visited by academics by NGOs and
being visited by academics by NGOs and
being visited by academics by NGOs and by tax agencies by connecting their data
by tax agencies by connecting their data
by tax agencies by connecting their data to ours they’re finding new leads to
to ours they’re finding new leads to
to ours they’re finding new leads to start new investigations for example
start new investigations for example
start new investigations for example Europol which is Europe’s
Europol which is Europe’s
Europol which is Europe’s law-enforcement agency found more than
law-enforcement agency found more than
law-enforcement agency found more than 3,000 probable matches to organized
3,000 probable matches to organized
3,000 probable matches to organized crime and tax fraud out of those 116
crime and tax fraud out of those 116
crime and tax fraud out of those 116 were connected to their program on
were connected to their program on
were connected to their program on Islamic terrorism
Islamic terrorism
Islamic terrorism traditionally in journalism stories
traditionally in journalism stories
traditionally in journalism stories finished the day you publish them maybe
finished the day you publish them maybe
finished the day you publish them maybe a few days or a few weeks later
a few days or a few weeks later
a few days or a few weeks later corruption never stops but sometimes our
corruption never stops but sometimes our
corruption never stops but sometimes our reporting does
reporting does
reporting does it’s been one year and a half since we
it’s been one year and a half since we
it’s been one year and a half since we started publishing the Panama papers and
started publishing the Panama papers and
started publishing the Panama papers and we’re still not done with the
we’re still not done with the
we’re still not done with the investigation at this point I just don’t
investigation at this point I just don’t
investigation at this point I just don’t know if we will ever be people keep
know if we will ever be people keep
know if we will ever be people keep finding new leads in the data because by
finding new leads in the data because by
finding new leads in the data because by sharing the files with the journalists
sharing the files with the journalists
sharing the files with the journalists and the world we gave a second life to
and the world we gave a second life to
and the world we gave a second life to these documents as I see all these news
these documents as I see all these news
these documents as I see all these news stories unfold I just can’t stop
stories unfold I just can’t stop
stories unfold I just can’t stop thinking about all the other leaks that
thinking about all the other leaks that
thinking about all the other leaks that we have had access to in journalism and
we have had access to in journalism and
we have had access to in journalism and I’m sure I’m sure we’ve missed many
I’m sure I’m sure we’ve missed many
I’m sure I’m sure we’ve missed many connections to other stories and to
connections to other stories and to
connections to other stories and to corruption cases because these files
corruption cases because these files
corruption cases because these files were not archived and shared we didn’t
were not archived and shared we didn’t
were not archived and shared we didn’t exploit the real value of those
exploit the real value of those
exploit the real value of those documents so we didn’t get our true
documents so we didn’t get our true
documents so we didn’t get our true return on investment there was one
return on investment there was one
return on investment there was one question that kept popping in my head
question that kept popping in my head
question that kept popping in my head over and over when I was the head of
over and over when I was the head of
over and over when I was the head of data and technology at the IC IJ and it
data and technology at the IC IJ and it
data and technology at the IC IJ and it still haunts me now that I’m a
still haunts me now that I’m a
still haunts me now that I’m a consultant how can we ensure the
consultant how can we ensure the
consultant how can we ensure the documents of our investigations live
documents of our investigations live
documents of our investigations live forever so that they can be used to
forever so that they can be used to
forever so that they can be used to expose corruption for decades I think
expose corruption for decades I think
expose corruption for decades I think this is one of the major issues
this is one of the major issues
this is one of the major issues journalism should be dealing with right
journalism should be dealing with right
journalism should be dealing with right now we should be thinking long and hard
now we should be thinking long and hard
now we should be thinking long and hard about how we archive what we have what
about how we archive what we have what
about how we archive what we have what we share and with whom and we should do
we share and with whom and we should do
we share and with whom and we should do it on a regular basis as part of our
it on a regular basis as part of our
it on a regular basis as part of our daily routines not just in unique
daily routines not just in unique
daily routines not just in unique investigations like the Panama papers
investigations like the Panama papers
investigations like the Panama papers this is very important for us not to
this is very important for us not to
this is very important for us not to miss stories in the future our democracy
miss stories in the future our democracy
miss stories in the future our democracy depends on on this thank you
depends on on this thank you
depends on on this thank you [Applause]
”
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