Corporate transparency & open data: Does reporting support accountability?

Every day, worker rights advocates, human rights defenders, climate activists, and trade union organizers fight for a fairer and more sustainable world. To make real progress, they need clear and reliable data to support their work with factories, brands, and governments.

Companies disclose some of this data through reports, supplier lists, and other transparency initiatives. However, significant gaps remain, and questions persist about the accuracy and reliability of corporate-reported information.

The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) was introduced to strengthen transparency by mandating more structured and public corporate disclosures. However, recent regulatory rollbacks, such as the Omnibus proposal, threaten these gains, raising concerns about the future of corporate accountability.

This discussion will bring together researchers and activists to share their experiences using corporate data, whether on its own or combined with other sources, to drive accountability. Speakers will highlight the challenges they face in accessing and utilizing company disclosures and explore potential solutions.

As part of Open Data Day 2025, join us for a discussion with researchers and activists on how data shapes their work, the growing challenges of accessing corporate transparency information, and the evolving role of open data in advocacy.

Laura Ranca – Exposing the Invisible Project Lead, Tactical Tech

Laura is an investigator and trainer with Tactical Tech’s Exposing the Invisible project, specializing in OSINT (Open-source intelligence) and follow-the-money techniques. She researches corporate corruption and the use of personal data while developing learning resources and collaboration opportunities for investigators and independent media worldwide.

Kate Jelly – Labour Rights Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC)
Kate is a labor rights researcher and advocate with expertise in gender issues and a focus on garment, footwear, and agricultural supply chains. She works to track corporate practices and strengthen protections for workers in these industries.

Luis Costa – Research Lead for the Climate and Energy Benchmark, World Benchmark Alliance (WBA)
Luis is an engineer turned researcher with a focus on climate impacts and energy transitions. His work spans topics such as sea-level rise, urban heat tolerance, and net-zero pathways, contributing to policy briefs and peer-reviewed research.

Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with experts and explore how open data can support the work of non-profit organizations.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Wikirate International e.V., Schliemannstraße 29, Berlin, Germany