Whistle-Blower Makes His Case on YouTube

Posted on Aug 29, 2006

From youtube.com

A screen capture from former Lockheed Martin engineer Michael De Kort’s whistle-blower video on YouTube.com.

Shortly before being fired, a Lockheed Martin engineer posted a 10-minute video on YouTube alleging that the military contractor was turning a blind eye to critical security flaws on Coast Guard patrol boats. An investigation is underway. It’s apparently the first time someone has used YouTube to make such an accusation.

(Article / Video)

Washington Post:

Michael De Kort was frustrated.

The 41-year-old Lockheed Martin engineer had complained to his bosses. He had told his story to government investigators. He had called congressmen.

But when no one seemed to be stepping up to correct what he saw as critical security flaws in a fleet of refurbished Coast Guard patrol boats, De Kort did just about the only thing left he could think of to get action: He made a video and posted it on YouTube.com.

“What I am going to tell you is going to seem preposterous,” De Kort solemnly tells viewers near the outset of the 10-minute clip. Posted three weeks ago, the video describes what De Kort says are blind spots in the ship’s security cameras, equipment that malfunctions in cold weather and other problems. “It may be very hard for you to believe that our government and the largest defense contractor in the world [are] capable of such alarming incompetence and can make ethical compromises as glaring as what I am going to describe.” In response to De Kort’s charges, a Coast Guard spokeswoman said the service has “taken the appropriate level of action.” A spokeswoman for the contractors said the allegations were without merit.

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