Gagging orders are rife, but whistleblowing is becoming a lucrative career opportunity.Claire Fox argues that we should not allow ourselves to get too comfortable with either practice.

Over recent weeks, commentators have expressed shock that the new BBC director general Tony Hall has signed a contract that includes a heavy-handed gagging order. This bars him from making 'any derogatory or unfavourable public remark' about the corporation for two years after he leaves.