Since 1 January 2017, whistleblowers have been able to report alleged supervisory law violations to BaFin using an electronic system. Although, on the one hand, this system guarantees absolute anonymity for the whistleblower, on the other it allows BaFin to get in touch with the whistleblower. They remain anonymous, because the system guarantees their anonymity, providing they do not disclose any data that allows them to be traced. It is technically impossible to trace the submission. The existing communication channels (e-mail, post, telephone, in person) continue to be available.

With this anonymous whistleblowing system, BaFin wants to ensure that fear of negative consequences does not prevent any potential whistleblowers from coming forward. The submission of specific information can help to eliminate violations of supervisory law. The system requires an environment in which potential whistleblowers are prepared to share their knowledge and BaFin is able to ascertain whether the information reported is of supervisory significance. By introducing the electronic whistleblowing system, BaFin has improved this environment further.

In 2017, the contact point for whistleblowers received 629 submissions; the electronic whistleblowing system was used by over half of the whistleblowers. Just under half of all the submissions received related to alleged violations by supervised institutions; BaFin is investigating these reports in order to initiate follow-up measures and stop the violations. Just over a quarter of the submissions related to potentially unauthorised business activities, which BaFin is also investigating 33 submissions related to alleged money laundering activities. The other reports related to complaints, which were passed to the consumer protection department for further processing , or to issues for which BaFin is not the competent authority. Some reports did not contain any identifiable facts.