Enthülltest

Enthülltest is a term used in German-language discourse to describe a methodological approach for evaluating how much information about a topic is disclosed to the public or to stakeholders. In practice, it functions as a structured transparency assessment that can be applied to organizations, media, and research communications.

Etymology and usage: The word combines enthüllen (to reveal) and Test (test). It is not a standardized concept; rather it appears in academic articles, policy discussions, and training contexts focusing on disclosure ethics and transparency practices.

Method: A typical enthülltest defines disclosure criteria, collects representative communications (reports, press releases, statements, policy documents), analyzes for omitted information, vagueness, or timing, and assigns a transparency score. The process may be repeated across entities or over time.

Applications: It is used in corporate governance to audit regulatory compliance, in journalism education to discuss ethical disclosure, and in research on information ecosystems or AI safety to probe potential information leakage.

Limitations: The approach is inherently subjective, depends on cultural and regulatory context, and may penalize strategic discretion rather than legitimate confidentiality. It also risks overemphasizing form over substance.

See also: transparency, disclosure, accountability, investigative journalism.