The U.K. Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has updated its guidance about how it evaluates corporate compliance programs when considering whether to prosecute or offer leniency to companies that have breached bribery and corruption laws.
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.
EU moves to simplify GDPR and AI Act obligations, raising compliance questions for companies
For the past decade, Europe has led in creating strong but flexible rules for data use and safe AI development. The EU’s new plans to simplify key data privacy and AI governance measures have received a mixed response.
U.K. data regulator pushes transparency on investigations while businesses seek clarity on compliance
Plans to increase transparency around how the U.K.’s Information Commissioner investigates and fines companies should give businesses more clarity, but experts say the regulator still needs to explain how it will prioritize cases.
FRC’s plans for more flexible enforcement gains support
Plans to give the U.K.’s audit regulator more options to regulate firms for sloppy work have been largely well received by experts, who believe the current system is “inflexible,” “cumbersome,” and “slow.”
U.K. outlines AI sandbox plan as regulators weigh compliance risks
The U.K. has set out a new blueprint for AI regulation, which aims to slash bureaucracy and ramp up the safe adoption of new and emerging technology to unlock potential and boost investment.
U.K. proposed changes to AML supervision
The U.K.’s financial services regulator will take a more central role as part of the government’s plans to simplify—and improve—efforts to clamp down on money laundering and terrorist financing.
Compliance survey shows clawback policies and cooperation tools largely unused
Many companies have strong compliance policies to encourage cooperation with regulators and hold staff accountable, but these policies are rarely used, and cooperation often depends on cost and business benefit, according to a new survey of compliance professionals.
Complying with the EU Data Act – What companies should know
Companies could face significant compliance challenges in trying to meet new EU legal requirements about how companies share data with third parties.
New EU Data Act may impact companies’ GDPR compliance efforts
New rules that have recently come into effect across the EU will allow for greater transfers of data between companies, though experts fear the changes could conflict with Europe’s strict privacy legislation, which protects personal information.
Employee use of ‘shadow AI’ poses significant risks for companies
Companies face increased risk of cyberattacks, data loss, and even regulatory action because employees are using unapproved “shadow AI” tools to help with work-related tasks.


