Understanding beneficial ownership data use
Appendix 1: Interview guides
Note: This simplified version of the research’s interview guides does not include the detailed prompt questions aimed to support lead interviewers to rephrase questions or ask follow-up clarifying questions. Questions were adapted to the profile of different interviewees.
Introduction and consent
- Introduction to the research project
- Consent for note-taking, recording, and publication of quotes
- Brief introduction of interview leads, note-takers, and participants
Interview questions
1. Can you please start by telling us more about your role, the main functions of your team/department, and the wider organisation?
2. How do you normally access BO information (both on legal vehicles registered in your jurisdiction and on foreign legal vehicles)?
3. Could you please tell us more about how you use BO information as part of your functions? Could you please describe the process?
4. Can you please explain specifically what BO information enables you to do?
5. Can you please think of a specific time when using BO information made a real difference in your work or in the world? Can you talk us through that example?
6. Can you describe the steps you take to find the BO information you need, and explain how you analyse it? What about the information or the way you access it makes it easier for you to follow these steps?
7. Which specific information or fields found in BO information do you need most in your work (e.g. nationalities, dates of birth, phone numbers, identifiers, full ownership chain, etc.)?
8. In your experience, what have been the biggest barriers to usability of BO data? What are the impacts of these barriers?
Conclusion
9. We have come to the end of the interview. Is there anything you would like to add or ask?
10. Are there other departments or other types of actors that are using BO information in your jurisdiction that you think we may be interested in speaking to? If so, would you be willing to provide an introduction?