Prior to Monday April 4th 2016, Panama was known for its carnivals & stunning natural beauty.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tOKSEtxjlU[/embedyt]
However, type Panama into google now and you get the following:
- Panama Paper
- Panama Papers List
- Panama Papers Australia
- Panama Leak
The scandal has been everywhere since breaking, and rightfully so. We’re talking about the biggest data leak in human history.
2600000000000 bytes of data – This is the leak: https://t.co/3esQRlBiHw #panampapers pic.twitter.com/Qgi8kFb1ft
— Süddeutsche Zeitung (@SZ) April 4, 2016
For those who haven’t been following the story, here’s a short explanation video:
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2APYPjTWZ8[/embedyt]
Amongst parlimentary officials resigning and celebrities being left red-faced, the fallout from the scandal has been swift and there has been a seismic reaction amongst both civilians and politicians in every country effected by the leak.
AUSTRALIA
Australia investigation on tax evasion https://t.co/hGiAU71kXD
— BBC News Australia (@BBCNewsAus) April 4, 2016
Straight away the ATO launched an investigation into over 800 Australian clients that were named as clients of Mossack Fonseca. Whilst there has been no official comment from Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull, Labor MP Tanya Pliberseck didn’t miss her oppurtunity to have a go at her right wing counterparts.
Working people are tired of paying more so that the rich can pay less @tanya_plibersek https://t.co/oX5a5yXr2d pic.twitter.com/6hwX70zLfI
— CFMEU (@CFMEU) April 5, 2016
ICELAND
The moment Iceland’s prime minister walked out of an interview because of a tax haven question #panamapapershttps://t.co/FfWj8jiQec
— The Guardian (@guardian) April 4, 2016
The country hardest hit by the scandal (so far) has been Iceland, and their civilians are pretty pissed off.
Icelandic @twitter is pissed right now. #cashljós
— Gissur Simonarson CN (@GissiSim) April 5, 2016
After it was revealed that Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson had been hiding his wealth Icelanders took to the streets to protest.
Second day of protest have started! #Iceland #Panamapapers pic.twitter.com/OVrEhDAHCU
— Sigridur Tulinius (@sigridurtul) April 5, 2016
— Píratapartýið – XÞ (@PiratePartyIS) April 5, 2016
This morning, the Prime Minister became the first of what is set to be a very large casualty ward, resigning and leaving the building as fast as he could…
PM running out of the parliament. News expected soon. #breaking #iceland #panamaleaks pic.twitter.com/lgkRfGpj6V
— Ásta Helgadóttir (@asta_fish) April 5, 2016
USA
Surprisingly, America had zero public officials named in the scandal. Something that many twitter users found …..interesting…..
USA having *zero* public officials implicated in the #panamapapers is amazing. https://t.co/ghae4D2hyY Or maybe not. pic.twitter.com/HJhYky7pSH
— Rohin Dharmakumar (@r0h1n) April 4, 2016
Of course the USA is clean of corruption #PanamaPapers pic.twitter.com/dT7D81AIyN
— faizal (@f4izalhassan) April 4, 2016
The USA has still managed to make it about themselves however, with a report today claiming the scandal will be extremely beneficial for attacker of big business and man of the people Bernie Sanders (#feelthebern)
The #panamapapers are way worse for @HillaryClinton https://t.co/VnWPqMk0YA #Trade #taxhavens #fraud #ImSoSick https://t.co/swPDwExLMu
— OthewhomaniT (@OthewhomaniT) April 6, 2016
UNITED KINGDOM
David Cameron: “I have no shares, no offshore trusts, no offshore funds” when asked about #PanamaPapers allegations https://t.co/SjcOwDpnEw
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 5, 2016
Whilst it has been revealed that Prime Minister David Cameron’s late father allegedly ran an offshore account that paid zero dollars in U.K tax for over 30 years, the PM has denied that he has any involvement in such activities. The Guardian reported that a number of high profile British personnel are amongst those who have offshore assets. Whilst no action has been taken by HM Revenue & Customs, both parties have called for an official investigation to be launched.
The Panama papers revelations are extremely serious. HMRC should treat this with utmost priority and urgently launch investigation
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) April 3, 2016
@George_Osborne how effective tax collector is HRMC? 9000 Brits named #panamapapers hiding cash! When was anybody sent down 4 tax evasion?
— Jonathan Burge (@jontburge) April 4, 2016
CHINA
If you’re in China, you might not even know a leak has occurred, with the Government moving quickly to censor the topic and other related search terms online. Whilst the reaction from Chinese civilians is unknown, it has been revealed that a number of high profile leaders and their relatives are embroiled in the scandal, which makes for an interesting plot twist in the ever evolving narrative.
China’s censors scramble to curb ‘Panama Papers’ newshttps://t.co/UzaPTDGF2S
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) April 5, 2016
China is censoring all social media chatter about the #PanamaPapers after a number of the Chinese elite were named https://t.co/hyejvFJstJ
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 5, 2016
With over 11.5 million documents examined, it is fair to say that the information we have right now is just the tip of an enormous, data-filled iceberg.