Disputes over good research practice in Germany can go to the Ombudsgremium für die wissenschaftliche Integrität in Deutschland, the ombuds committee for research integrity. Its rules of procedure of January 2025 state: Alle an das Ombudsgremium gerichteten Anfragen und Verfahren werden streng vertraulich behandelt. All requests and procedures are treated strictly confidentially.
The committee acts as adviser and mediator, and it imposes no sanctions. It can hold Einzelgespräche, individual talks, as well as talks with the parties together. In 2016, under its earlier name, it explained why it insists on secrecy. Ohne die Sicherung absoluter Vertraulichkeit sind Ombudsverfahren nicht möglich. Without absolute confidentiality, ombuds procedures are not possible.