The Irish Data Protection Commission announced a fine of €5.5 million (U.S. $5.9 million) against WhatsApp under the General Data Protection Regulation for forcing users to consent to updated terms and conditions or lose access to the service.
Neil Hodge
Neil Hodge is a freelance business journalist and photographer based in Nottingham, United Kingdom. He writes on insurance and risk management, corporate governance, internal audit, compliance, and legal issues for a wide range of publications in the United Kingdom and United States.
FCA orders GT Bank to pay $9.4M for ‘reckless’ AML weaknesses
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority fined Guaranty Trust Bank approximately £7.67 million (U.S. $9.4 million) for weaknesses in its anti-money laundering systems and controls that spanned a five-year period.
FCA fines Al Rayan Bank nearly $5M for AML failings
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority fined Al Rayan Bank more than £4 million (U.S. $4.9 million) for its lack of adequate anti-money laundering controls.
Meta fined $414M for targeted advertising GDPR breaches
The Irish Data Protection Commission fined Meta Ireland a total of €390 million (U.S. $414 million) for breaching the General Data Protection Regulation by forcing users to agree their personal data can be used for targeted advertising to access Facebook and Instagram.
ESG in 2023: CSRD to put new pressures on EU businesses
Corporate reporting on everything from climate change to workers’ rights is set for a shake-up in the European Union, and companies should use 2023 to prepare for new regulations and stakeholder expectations.
‘Period of uncertainty’ projected as U.K. embarks on ‘Edinburgh Reforms’
The “Edinburgh Reforms” aim to establish a smarter regulatory framework for the United Kingdom that is agile, less costly, and more responsive to emerging trends. Experts weigh in on the proposed changes.
TSB Bank fined $59.2M for governance lapses in botched IT migration
TSB Bank was fined £48.65 million (U.S. $59.2 million) by U.K. regulators after a disastrous IT migration left customers unable to access cash or use online accounts for weeks.
Abanca fined $3.3M for missing 2-hour breach reporting deadline
The European Central Bank fined Spanish bank Abanca €3.145 million (U.S. $3.3 million) after it “knowingly failed” to report a major cyber breach within the prescribed two-hour time limit.
Deutsche Bank efforts to meet BaFin order reflective of EU’s AML struggles
Deutsche Bank said it is about “two-thirds” of the way toward meeting Germany’s financial regulator’s demands for tighter controls to combat money laundering and terrorist financing—an area of weakness many banks across the European Union are confronting.
Santander UK fined $132M for poor AML controls
The U.K. arm of Santander was fined approximately £107.8 million (U.S. $132 million) by the Financial Conduct Authority for “serious and persistent” gaps in its anti-money laundering controls.


