Key Difference – Bribery vs Blackmail
Bribery and blackmail are two distinct legal offenses that involve an exchange of money or valuables. Bribery refers to the exchange of money or valuables in order to get one’s work done, while blackmail involves the extortion of money or valuables by threatening to expose discreditable information.
What is Bribery?
Bribery is the act of giving or offering a bribe, often involving the exchange of money or valuable items to influence public officials in the performance of their duties. This can take various forms, such as money, favors, discounts, free tips, campaign contributions, secret commissions, promotions, sponsorships, or funding. Both giving and receiving bribes are punishable by law. Examples of bribery include paying a police officer to avoid a speeding ticket, giving a percentage of profit to officials to obtain a government contract, judges taking money in exchange for ruling a certain way, or offering a building inspector a gift to grant a permit.
What is Blackmail?
Blackmail is a crime involving threatening a person in order to compel them to do an act against their will, or to take their money or property. This is considered a form of extortion and differs from extortion as it primarily involves information. In blackmail, the offender threatens to reveal potentially embarrassing, damaging, or incriminating information about the victim or their family unless their demands for money, services, or property are met. Even if the information the blackmailer has is true and incriminating, they will still be charged with blackmail if they have threatened to expose it unless the victim meets their demands.
What is the difference between Bribery and Blackmail?
Definition:
Bribery: Bribery involves giving money or valuable items to a person in power, typically a public official, in order to induce the person to take a particular action.
Blackmail: Blackmail involves the extortion of money or something else of value from a person by the threat of exposing a criminal act or discreditable information.
Punishment:
Bribery: Both parties in a bribery transaction are punishable by law.
Blackmail: The blackmailer is punishable by law; the other party is the victim.
Force:
Bribery: Bribery involves persuading and paying one party.
Blackmail: Blackmail involves threatening and intimidating one party.
