Big news this week from France as the Commission Nationale de I’Informatique et des Libertes (CNIL) rejected Google’s appeal against the enforcement of “right to be forgotten.” If Google fails to comply with CNIL’s order, the company may be hit with sanctions, including a €300,000 fine, which could increase to 5 percent of Google’s global operating costs in light of new European regulations. More inside.
Aarti Maharaj
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Swiss Authorities to Unveil New ‘Lex-FIFA’ Anti-Corruption Reform
A new draft anti-corruption law in Switzerland, named after scandal-ridden football organization FIFA, will treat bribery as a criminal offence and allow Swiss authorities to launch corruption probes against the country’s international sporting federations without tip-offs from inside the organization in question. Some members of Swiss Parliament argue that the draft law might be difficult to implement since there are no whistleblower protections in Switzerland. More inside.
Posted inEurope
BoE: More ‘Debate’ Around Tougher Capital Rules Needed
Image: The Bank of England’s chief economist, Andy Haldane, is calling for debate around whether financial institutions should set aside more capital to help them weather any potential losses. “[Capital requirements] will be 10x higher than pre-crisis. Should they be higher still? Right question for tomorrow. We need that debate,” Haldane tweeted in a recent question-and-answer session to promote an upcoming BoE event. Details inside.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Getting a Better Read on ‘Conduct Risk’
Image: “Conduct risk” is a phrase uttered by many regulators these days and a menace compliance officers in banking circles worry about more and more. Still, putting a precise definition on it isn’t easy. “Conduct risk frequently demands that a firm address the widest range of policies, processes … and organizational changes,” says Ray Nulty of the Berkeley Research Group. More on how to address conduct risk (and how regulators address it) inside.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Tougher Regulations Lead to Structural Overhaul in Europe’s Biggest Banks
The size and number of European investment banks is shrinking, due to tighter regulations that are causing some big banks to retreat from expansion plans. The move comes as financial firms anxiously await final ring-fencing rules from the U.K. Prudential Regulation Authority. More inside.
Posted inRegulatory Enforcement
Bulgaria’s Anti-Graft Bill Failed to Win Parliamentary Approval
The Bulgarian government’s plan to create a special anti-corruption unit designed to tackle high-level corruption cases through anonymous reporting has failed to gain parliamentary approval as the fight to end corruption across Europe intensifies. In 2014, Bulgaria was ranked as one of the most corrupt EU countries, according to Transparency International’s annual corruption perceptions index. Details inside.
Posted inEurope
Google Facing Some Intense Heat in Europe
Image: European companies may now find it easier to file potential damages suits against Google, thanks to an independent platform calling on individuals and entities to proffer any civil claims regarding Google’s anticompetitive behavior. The “Google Redress and Integrity Platform” comes at a time when Google is facing several investigations and a fine of up to £4.3 billion from the European Commission, according to EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager. More inside.
Posted inEurope
Banks Fear EU Privacy Rules Will Make Fraud Harder to Detect
Image: Bankers are claiming new EU privacy laws may end up doing more harm than good, as they will prevent banks from detecting fraud and terrorist financing. Consumer rights groups disagree, arguing that the updated laws will pave the way for more transparency and force banks to behave more responsibly with data. One year ago, EU Justice Commissioner Martine Reicherts said the rules would replace a hodgepodge of regulatory frameworks with one clear roadmap. Details inside.
Posted inEurope
Podcast: Conducting Internal Investigations in Europe
Image: In light of increased enforcement activities across Europe, particularly increased enforcement cooperation among foreign jurisdictions and around the world, European corporations are subjected to overlapping and often similar—but not identical—regulatory requirements. In our latest podcast, we talk to Tiffany Moseley, partner in Kaye Scholer’s litigation practice, about internal investigations and data privacy in Europe. Listen here.
Posted inEurope
Banks Are Concerned Over New EU Bonus Rules
Image: New EU legislation covering banker pay that will be applied across all member states is causing some rift in the industry. Wim Mijs, chief executive of the European Banking Federation, said the rules may lead to a “heavy administrative burden.” He is calling on the European commissioner responsible for regulating executive compensation to reconsider the legislation. Details inside.
