World leaders are what caught people’s eye when the International Consortium of Journalists first published the “Panama Papers” — a huge leaked list of names associated with offshore banking accounts. Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister of Iceland, Silvio Berlusconi — those kinds of usual suspects. But the database is now open to the public for searching, and the 11.5 million documents promise determined searchers revelations for months to come. Actress and activist Emma Watson‘s name just turned up, sending the Internet wild. Her reps say Watson uses the offshore strategy for privacy, not advantage. You can search for your own favorite celebrities, your state representatives or your in-laws by going to the ICIJ Panama Papers Offshore Leaks database.
The disclaimer on the database says there are “legitimate uses for offshore companies and trusts” and that “we do not intend to suggest or imply that any persons, companies or other entities included in the ICIJ Offshore Leaks Database have broken the law or otherwise acted improperly.” So if you find, say, Tom Hanks in there, he’s done nothing wrong. He just needed a place to put his money that is way different from where you put yours. That said, the ICIJ does subtitle its Panama Papers scoop like this: “Politicians, Criminals and The Rogue Industry That Hides Their Cash.” But remember, there’s no suggestion of broken laws.
