This is true, but the function of the compliance department is to ensure that the company operates within the boundaries set by law and regulation. They typically operate with the authority and access to top management. They would report incidents of non-compliance to management and much more rarely to a regulator, very rarely to the media. If members of the compliance department report to the regulators or public they are covered by the relevant whistleblower statutes. I can't recall members of the compliance department organizing other employees to demonstrate.

Another organization is the quality control department of a manufacturer. They also tend to report independently to top management, and they function similarly.