Whistleblowing can severely hurt you, from destroying your career to killing you. People who demand it blindly probably haven't ever had to make a hard choice about it.

I recommend against it in almost all cases for people I care about, because people have this natural infatuation for victims that is obviously prurient (whether it's love, reverence, hate, or even disgust) and you yourself are going to end up the center of the storm.

If they decide to do it anyway because they're better people than me. I try to make sure they don't do it stupidly, and work with them on a careful plan that minimizes their personal danger and has the best chance of succeeding.

In the book "Close Calls" by Stratis Kas, Dr. Sonia Rowley tells a heartbreaking story of having to endure constant sexual harassment from one of her colleagues during a field research expedition. She was already a PhD and nominally in charge but decided not to blow the whistle because that would have set her research back by years. It's never an easy decision.

https://stratiskas.com/closecalls/

Her professor counseled her against reporting. They needed the contact to get PhD students positions and recommendations. Reporting it online meant throwing up obstacles to herself for holding other academic positions.

A PhD student is hostage against the system.

They can file a wage claim like any other employee. In fact employers on the islands are required to hold a bond to prevent this kind of thing in the first place.

Her professor counceled her to let him trap others in the same situation?!? Fine professor.

Sounds like she should wait until after she gets her phd, then scream. And, while leveling accusations at the professor too.

He's as guilty as they are.

Were I in this situation, I would be quite sure the professor is receiving kickbacks.

You should council your friend to keep as much data, write everything down (keep a log book), keep backups of emails etc.

Don't let time, let scum win.

I did, but as a tall white middle-class male counseling a short young inner-city woman of color it's a little difficult without being patronizing. Her response was "This is not even the worst thing that's been done to me; I have to let some of it go."

Would you have felt more comfortable counselling her if you were 3 or 4" shorter?

Not all want to fight the just fight. By fighting you become the victim twice.

Yes, you may save others but I cant blame someone for makinf the pragmatic choice for their lives and family.