Shutdown · Government, Defense & Space

Bribes.fyi shuts down permanently after viral surge

By Startup Enthusiast · 19 August 2026

What they do

Bribes.fyi allowed users to anonymously report bribe demands across various government departments like the police, RTO, and municipal corporations

The platform permanently shut down after receiving 50 lakh requests in 48 hours, citing concerns over data sensitivity and potential misuse

The developers stated they were not the right custodians for such data at scale and confirmed there are no plans to restart submissions

The Bribes.fyi platform has been permanently shut down by its developers.
The decision followed a massive surge in traffic that saw 50 lakh requests submitted within 48 hours.
Developers concluded they were not the appropriate custodians for handling sensitive data at such a high scale.
The shutdown was implemented to prevent the misuse of the platform and its data.
The reporting system is now closed with no plans to resume accepting new submissions.

The platform was originally intended to send a signal regarding corruption rather than target specific individuals.
The sudden attention prompted the founder to seek professional guidance from lawyers and chartered accountants.
The shutdown sparked public debate regarding the need for stronger privacy safeguards, decentralised systems, and formal legal oversight.

The platform functioned as a tool for anonymous reporting of alleged bribe demands across government departments.
Users provided details including the specific department, the amount demanded, and the role of the official involved.
Visitors could compare reports across various government sectors to identify patterns.
Listed departments included the Police, RTO, Passport Office, GST Office, and Income Tax.
Other covered sectors included Revenue/Land Records, Municipal Corporations, Electricity Boards, and the Food and Drug Administration.

The developers have confirmed there are no plans to restart the submission process.