All articles by Neil Hodge
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ArticleU.K. competition regulator ‘very likely’ to use new enforcement powers despite government’s pro-growth agenda
New powers granted to the U.K.’s main competition watchdog will result in greater scrutiny, tougher enforcement, and a stark warning for companies to review their sales and marketing promotions—especially since some practices have been pushed firmly into the spotlight thanks to legislation that came into effect last year.
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ArticleFCA drive to reduce its investigation costs likely to add to compliance burden for smaller firms, warn experts
The U.K. financial regulator’s move towards “impactful deterrence” could see smaller and mid-size firms come increasingly under the spotlight as the watchdog aims to tackle market-wide concerns instead of primarily focusing on large players capable of doing the most harm.
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ArticleWhat to do when the CEO is the 'biggest AI risk' to the organization
For the past few years, companies have been grappling with how to control employees’ use of AI in the workplace, but it seems that executives are the most likely to flout the rules and put the organization at risk.
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ArticleCompliance main complaint raised by whistleblowers to U.K. financial regulator
More complaints about compliance are reported to the U.K.’s financial services watchdog than any other kind of potential misconduct, and even if few of them result in investigation or censure, experts believe such reports help inform future supervision and enforcement.
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ArticleIf financial services firms don’t want more AI rules, comply with existing regs, experts warn
The U.K.’s financial regulators have long maintained that AI use by banks, insurers, and other financial services firms is already regulated under existing rules, but such assurances are increasingly being questioned.
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ArticleNew EU rules will force companies to come clean on pay
New rules that will be introduced this June will require companies based in the European Union (EU) to explain why some workers are paid more money for the same job and remedy any “unjustified” discrepancies.
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ArticleExperts urge stronger compliance involvement to mitigate AI liability
Companies look set to increase their spend on AI technologies during 2026, but not every investment is likely to pay off. In fact, most appear to offer little return quickly.
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ArticleU.K. lawmakers push for guidance, rules around AI in financial services
British lawmakers have warned that neither the U.K. government nor key financial regulators are doing enough to manage the risks presented by AI to consumers.
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ArticleU.K. insider trading case highlights benefits to self-reporting suspicious activity
The U.K. has recently initiated a series of comprehensive crackdowns on financial fraud, particularly in the financial services sector. A recent enforcement action highlighted the effectiveness of one of the Financial Conduct Authority’s lesser-known weapons in its fight to combat insider trading—the Suspicious Transaction and Order Report (STOR).
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ArticleThe hidden compliance costs behind failed AI deployments
Companies look set to increase their spend on AI technologies during 2026, but not every investment is likely to pay off. In fact, most appear to offer little return quickly.
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ArticleEU investigation into Grok may expose problems with DSA rather than compliance failings
The European Commission has launched a formal investigation against Elon Musk’s X under the Digital Services Act over fears that its AI tool Grok may be producing and disseminating illegal material.
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ArticleSFO head to step down as speculation grows over future of agency
Nick Ephgrave, director of the U.K.’s main anti-corruption enforcement agency, the Serious Fraud Office, will retire at the end of March—about halfway through his appointed five-year term. Experts say he leaves the agency in a lot better position than he joined it in September 2023.
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ArticleU.K. regulators move to curb AI nudification tools as scrutiny of Grok grows
The U.K. government’s spat with Big Tech owner Elon Musk over the more risque capabilities of X’s AI assistant Grok has exposed more cracks than the chatbot was ever meant to.
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OpinionExperts outline core skills compliance teams need to develop in 2026
Compliance teams will face a range of ongoing challenges in the coming year, as well as greater demands from boards and management for better, wider, and more real-time assurance on an increasing range of risk topics.
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ArticleU.K. sets out strategy to combat bribery and corruption
The U.K. is introducing tougher safeguards and compliance checks in its latest drive to cut down on financial crime and stem the flow of dirty money that continues to be laundered by British businesses, facilitated by accountants and lawyers.
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ArticleFCA indicates path for future crypto regulation
The U.K.’s financial regulator has proposed a set of rules to regulate the growing crypto industry after recognising that consumers are interested in exploring the market despite persistent warnings about price volatility, the high-risk of losses, and investment scams.
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ArticleSFO guidance on evaluating compliance programs short on specifics, experts say
Companies looking for greater certainty about how they might avoid criminal prosecution for bribery, fraud, and corruption offences may find they’re going to be disappointed if they’re looking for definitive answers in the latest guidance from the U.K.’s main fraud investigator, say experts.
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ArticleEU loosens AI and data rules
Europe has been at the forefront of designing strong—but flexible—rules around data use and the safe development of AI, but the EU recently announced plans to simplify some key measures around data privacy and AI governance, which have met with mixed responses.
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PremiumFCA helps firms to test Artificial Intelligence tools safely
The U.K.’s financial regulator has set up a live-testing environment so that firms can road-test their Artificial Intelligence (AI) services safely before launching them to the public.
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ArticleSFO sharpens framework for judging compliance programs in bribery and fraud cases
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.