Robert Palmer: The Panama Papers exposed a huge global problem. What's next?
Robert Palmer investigates how the financial system facilitates corruption and other crimes. Full bio
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the largest data leak in history.]
rich and powerful people]
in offshore accounts.]
of Global Witness to explain.]
a whole slew and deluge of stories
of 11 million documents
called Mossack Fonseca.
lifts the veil on a tiny piece
and banks and lawyers
an anonymous company,
of how this works,
to have pretty immediate repercussions.
of Iceland has resigned.
Syrian dictator Bashar Al-Assad
of a $2 billion money trail
Vladimir Putin of Russia
of rich individuals out there
about the next set of stories
of a spy thriller
from you, me, ordinary people.
and powerful individuals
for vital public services
and political leaders
can use offshore secrecy
and exposing for a decade.
this entire world baffling and confusing,
this sort of offshore world works.
like a Russian doll.
stacked inside another company,
to really understand
for law enforcement
journalists, civil society
of this issue in the United States.
some prominent US people
in this exposé, in this scandal.
there are no rich Americans
in which offshore works,
American clients.
from the Cayman Islands
or Wyoming or Nevada,
and examples linking back to Americans.
you need less information,
information to get a company
has allowed employees of school districts
to rip off vulnerable investors.
that affects all of us.
actually looked like in practice.
to 13 Manhattan law firms.
as an African minister
into the United States
was that all but one of those lawyers
took us on as a client
with the system.
as individual cases.
an individual lawyer
investigator and provided suggestions.
a particular senior politician
tax evasion, poverty and instability.
and powerful individuals.
to get some change.
greater transparency
in Northern Ireland in 2013.
is going to be creating
companies across Europe.
actually, the US is lagging behind.
that had been introduced
as we'd like to see.
the Panama leaks,
in the US and around the world.
this is a moment for change.
can hide their identity
to stand up and say,
good for business."
to recognize the problem,
to open up this sort of secrecy.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Robert Palmer - Campaign leader, Global WitnessRobert Palmer investigates how the financial system facilitates corruption and other crimes.
Why you should listen
Robert Palmer is the Banks and Corruption Campaign Leader for Global Witness, whose founder Charmian Gooch won the TED Prize in 2014. The Nobel-prize nominated organization is dedicated to breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption.
Palmer has led a number of high profile investigations. These include exposing how corrupt Nigerian politicians used British high street banks to move bribe money; uncovering which global banks held $65 billion of Libyan government funds; and organizing an undercover sting to show how corrupt officials can move suspect funds into the U.S. with the help of New York lawyers.
Palmer is an expert in the global anti-money laundering framework and helps to develop practical policy solutions to improve its effectiveness. He helps to lead a global coalition of civil society groups campaigning for an end to the abuse of the financial system by corrupt officials. This has led to new transparency laws in the UK and EU to tackle anonymously owned companies.
Robert Palmer | Speaker | TED.com