news | Journalists publish a searchable database with information from Panama Papers

A screenshot of the ICIJ database, Tuesday, May 10, 2016. (Author) 

On Monday, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists announced a searchable database with information compiled from the massive Panama Papers leak last month. While the database doesn’t contain copies of the original, leaked documents and information, it uses an interactive graphic to show the connections between shell companies, corporate structures, and their owners.

In a blog post on its website, the ICIJ was quick to note the database is by no means comprehensive. “ICIJ is not publishing the totality of the leak,” writes Marina Guevara, deputy director of the ICIJ, “and it is not disclosing raw documents or personal information en masse. The database contains a great deal of information about company owners, proxies and intermediaries in secrecy jurisdictions, but it doesn’t disclose bank accounts, email exchanges and financial transactions contained in the documents.” Some groups have pressed for the release of all papers, while others have pointed out the validity of criticism that the release of the Papers may be political.

The database warns users that “We do not intend to suggest or imply that any persons, companies or entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly.” The database also contains information from other, earlier leaks, and allows users to filter and search by country or jurisdiction.