The UK government is currently bringing the ‘2016 EU directive on trade secrets protection’ into national law. It is a directive heavily influenced by corporate lobbying and gives businesses new rights to seek financial damages from people who disclose internal company information. But where does that leave whistleblowers, journalists, trade unions and workers who act in the public interest? 
 
MEPs have been able to win some important safeguards at the EU level but none of these have been adopted by the UK draft regulation. They include;
 
‘”allowing the disclosure of trade secrets on the grounds of freedom of expression; when revealing wrongdoing or illegal activity; and when disclosures are made by workers to their trade union representatives. Instead, there is just a general requirement for judges to consider “the public interest” and “the protection of fundamental rights” when they consider an alleged case of trade secret infringement.”