FTC ends appeal over noncompete ban but seeks public input
The FTC officially withdrew its appeal in a federal court case over its ban on employer noncompete clauses that it passed last year. The agency, however, says it wants public input regarding the effects of employer noncompete agreements.
Google hit with $425.6 million verdict in California privacy case
Google allegedly collected personal data from mobile devices without permission, violating California privacy laws, a jury ruled in awarding more than $425.6 million to class-action plaintiffs.
Freight forwarder fined $1.6M after using OFAC-blocked Venezuelan, Iranian carriers
A Houston-based freight forwarder, Fracht FWO Inc., will pay $1.6 million for violating U.S. sanctions tied to Venezuela and Iran, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The fine comes as OFAC ramps up enforcement in recent months.
Navigating top risks in the insurance industry
Cyber threats, climate-related catastrophes, and disruptive technologies remain top risks reshaping the U.S. insurance industry. The question is how chief risk officers at the nation’s largest insurers are confronting them.
CFTC clears deck of ‘compliance’ enforcement actions to focus on fraud
BNY, Citigroup, Santander, UBS, and two other financial institutions paid a total of $8.3M to settle separate compliance violations with the CFTC.
Hospitals, health IT face HHS crackdown for blocking electronic records
The Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up its enforcement against hospitals and other health entities that block the sharing of electronic health records.
Digital wallets should speed up compliance, but companies must focus on trust and security
The EU has one, the U.K. is getting one, many U.S. states are working with Google and Apple to provide one, and now industry sectors are developing their own digital wallet.
DOJ, SEC charge owner of Pennsylvania companies of running $770M Ponzi scheme
The majority owner of a Pennsylvania investment firm faces 100 years of prison time and huge fines for allegedly running a $770 million Ponzi scheme centered on an ATM company he also owned.
Disney hit with $10M FTC fine for allegedly collecting children’s data
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed an enforcement action against Disney for allegedly collecting personal information about children, and then threw salt in the wound by calling the company out in an alert emailed to an untold number of businesses.
Why audit won’t save your anti-money laundering (AML) program
In financial institutions across the United States, there’s a reflex that’s become almost ritual.
Chinese money-laundering networks moved $312B in dirty money through the U.S.
Suspicious activity reports filed by U.S. financial institutions show that Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers are laundering dirty funds through Chinese money laundering networks (CMLNs) operating in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Federal Reserve Governor sues Trump over attempted removal
President Donald Trump announced he would fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday. On Thursday, Cook filed a lawsuit claiming Trump cannot remove her from office and is violating federal law.
FinCEN again delays U.S. ban on three Mexican financial institutions
The order barring three Mexican financial institutions from doing business with U.S. financial institutions has been delayed until October.
Trump tries alternative approach on California air standards agency by alleging anti-white bias
The Trump administration has intensified its fight with California as the DOJ launched an investigation into whether the state’s environmental agency is violating federal law by pursuing racial equity.
The GENIUS Act: A new era for U.S. crypto regulation
For years, stablecoin regulation was stuck in an uncertain legal gray zone with no clear rules until the GENIUS Act arrived as a turning point. For the first time, a concrete federal framework has drawn a line by requiring reserves to be held, demanding transparency, and putting consumer protections front ...
SEC taps military judge as Enforcement Division Director
The SEC has named Margaret “Meg” Ryan, a senior military judge and Harvard Law lecturer, as its next Enforcement Division Director—an unconventional pick that could signal changes in enforcement strategy.
CFPB makes move to stake a claim against bankrupt Synapse, the fintech software company
Synapse Financial Technologies, the troubled California fintech software provider, has agreed to let the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) eventually file a claim on its bankrupt estate.
JPMorgan Chase pays $330M to settle Malaysian fund allegations
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay $330 million to settle allegations about its role in the massive, decades-long theft of Malaysian’s 1MDB state investment fund, the bank says.
OCC lifts AML consent order on Anchorage Digital
Crypto platform Anchorage Digital has been freed of a consent order originally issued by the Treasury Department for anti-money laundering failures.
DOJ charges California fintech executives in $248M fraud involving falsified documents
The co-founders of a California financial tech and sustainability services company defrauded investors and lenders of $248 million, according to the Department of Justice.
California privacy regulator unveils new cyber, risk, and automation rules
Businesses operating in California will need to meet new, first-in-the-nation privacy requirements for cybersecurity, risk assessments, and automated decision-making technology, under a large expansion of rules by the state.
FTC complaint accuses LA Fitness parent companies of blocking easy membership exits
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against LA Fitness’ parent companies, citing difficulties canceling memberships, a month after a court blocked the agency’s click-to-cancel rule.
Judge orders CVS to pay nearly $290M for Medicare false claims
CVS’s Caremark division knowingly overcharged Medicare for prescription drugs and must pay nearly $290 million, a Pennsylvania federal judge has ordered.
DOJ, EPA take legal action against the California Air Resources Board
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed two lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board, claiming it no longer has the legal right to enforce strict emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks.
SEC charges duo in $275 million water vending machine Ponzi scheme
The owner of a water machine vending company and a portfolio manager were allegedly behind a Ponzi-like scheme that raised more than $275 million, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
‘Extraordinary cooperation’ pays off for PFS Investments
As regulators shift toward rewarding transparency, self-regulation and self-reporting, the way PFS Investments handled a longstanding problem serves as an example of how proactive remediation can turn a costly compliance error into a manageable regulatory outcome.
DOJ charges Texas businessmen in alleged bribery scheme over PEMEX oil contracts
The Department of Justice says two Mexican businessmen living in Texas allegedly bribed Mexican officials to secure $2.5 million in contracts with Petróleos Mexicanos, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, and a subsidiary.
Match.com agrees to pay $14 million in FTC settlement over subscription practices
Match.com, the online dating site, will pay $14 million and make changes to its membership terms to settle allegations that it made cancellations difficult and made misrepresentations to members, the Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday.
Compliance in the spotlight as tariffs, sanctions turn into geopolitical weapons
Navigating tariffs and sanctions is becoming a core part of compliance for many companies. As the U.S. and others use economic policies for political aims, compliance teams must adapt to this new geoeconomic trend.
EPA relaunches online portal for thousands of environmental guidance documents
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reopened its guidance portal on Wednesday. This online portal is a searchable database of EPA guidance documents, first created during President Donald Trump’s first term and shuttered under the Biden administration.
Nine regulatory initiatives under SEC’s “Project Crypto” aim to redefine crypto market rules
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins has launched “Project Crypto,” a major regulatory overhaul aimed at shifting the agency from enforcement to innovation. Atkins’ address outlined as many as nine Commission-wide initiatives to revamp the SEC’s rulebook for the digital finance era.
Ransomware gang BlackSuit hit with major takedown after targeting 450 U.S. victims
The BlackSuit ransomware organization has taken a major hit under a U.S.-led, global law enforcement operation that seized the criminal group’s servers and assets, the Department of Justice said Monday.
DOJ declines to prosecute Liberty Mutual in $4.7M FCPA bribery case
Liberty Mutual agreed to give up $4.7 million in profit – the amount it earned from a bribery scheme uncovered by the government – as part of a settlement related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Nation’s largest apartment manager agrees to end use of RealPage algorithm
Greystar Management, the largest apartment manager in the U.S., has agreed to halt its use of a certain algorithm program to set prices under a Department of Justice proposed settlement aimed at ending the company’s alleged rental price fixing.
Fraud, money laundering, and sanctions prompt global regulators to increase scrutiny of law firms
Legal firms face growing global regulatory pressure, requiring compliance managers to focus on integrated systems, identity verification, and staff training to prevent crime and penalties.
New federal memo signals elevated risk to colleges engaging in DEI activity
A new memorandum from President Trump directs increased federal scrutiny of race- and sex-based admissions practices at colleges and universities, however, its implications extend beyond higher education.
More federal whistleblowers come forward amid government layoffs
As the Trump administration continues to reduce the number of workers at multiple federal agencies, there has been a record number of whistleblowers coming forward.
FTC secures $145 Million in settlements over misleading health insurance sales and data practices
Two major health insurance brokers will pay a combined $145 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission allegations that they misled millions of consumers and mishandled personal data, the agency announced Thursday.
Operators of crypto platform plead guilty to enabling money laundering
The owners of cryptocurrency mixing service Samourai Wallet pleaded guilty to transmitting more than $200 million in criminal transactions, according to the Department of Justice.
NJ manufacturer fined by CPSC for failing to report deadly defect in its air conditioners
A delayed product hazard report cost one company criminal and civil penalties—and a mother her life. This case shows why timely reporting and executive accountability are non-negotiable for compliance teams.
FinCEN delays AML rules for realtors and investment advisors until 2028
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network is delaying an upcoming requirement that investment advisors and realtors begin screening clients for money laundering and other illegal activity.
CFPB could run out of money by fall, report says
The Trump administration declawed the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau from the very beginning of his second term. It now appears the agency might be running out of money.
Thanks to 'laser focus' on cartels, Trump admin creates new corporate risks in Mexico
The Trump administration’s designation of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations in February has made doing business in Mexico riskier than ever before for corporations.
DOJ, SEC end Investigations of GE HealthCare for possible FCPA violations in China
The Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice ended a seven-year review of GE HealthCare Technologies’ China unit for possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
New York lab CEO allegedly billed insurers for $500M in fraudulent COVID test claims
The U.S. Department of Justice says the chief executive and medical director of Fast Lab Technologies allegedly engaged in a $500 million fraud scheme involving COVID-19 tests.
SEC’s Crypto Task Force hits the road with nationwide roundtables
The Securities and Exchange Commission is taking its pro-crypto messaging on the road, planning a series of events for its Crypto Task Force that will be held across the U.S. starting on Aug. 4.
DOJ warns against using proxies for DEI in federally funded programs
The DOJ is warning that simply scrubbing DEI-related words from policy documents or training materials—and replacing them with thinly veiled proxies—will not protect federally funded organizations from legal scrutiny.
U.K. proposes streamlining regime meant to hold fin serve executives to account
When growth slows, governments often cut rules to attract investment, as the U.K. has in its financial services sector, which contributes 8.8% of GDP, but easing the “compliance burden” raises concerns about oversight, governance, and prioritizing profits over safety.
OFAC cracks down on Iran’s oil trade with new sanctions sweep
More than 50 people and 50 ships connected to a top Iranian official were added to the U.S. Treasury’s sanctions list on Wednesday, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Kentucky is latest state to file suit against Temu for alleged privacy violations
Kentucky took aim at Chinese company Temu, alleging in a lawsuit that it counterfeited popular Kentucky-designed merchandise and violated customers’ privacy.