DOJ targets $14.6B in health care fraud with focus on transnational crime
Emerging enforcement priorities of the U.S. Department of Justice’s health care fraud division align with the Trump administration’s emphasis on prosecuting transnational criminal organizations and ending opioid trafficking.
DOGE targets SPAC oversight under SEC, report says
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has a new target, and this time it won’t be just firing federal workers. The agency formed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk at the start of the Trump administration wants to roll back more regulations.
FTC raises antitrust concerns over $1.57B Circle K deal, orders divestitures
Since President Donald Trump took office, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has yet to keep up the level of enforcement it had under previous chair Lina Khan. The agency, however, returned to antitrust action in the case of fuel stations, just in time for the July 4th holiday.
Judge reinstates fired CPSC commissioners in latest battle over government cuts
In May, three commissioners for the Consumer Product Safety Commission were abruptly fired by President Donald Trump and sued for their jobs shortly after. A federal judge has ruled that the commissioners should be reinstated, although it’s unclear whether that ruling may itself be reversed.
UK’s Failure to Prevent Fraud law may expose firms to unlimited fines and prosecution, says Moody’s compliance risk expert
Fraud now accounts for around 40% of all crime in the U.K., posing a major problem for banks and consumers. Ted Datta, head of industry practice for financial crime compliance at Moody’s, warns that the risk is growing fast.
DOJ wants less monitoring, more self-disclosure and fine reductions, Galeotti says
The Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, continuing its aggressive, pro-business stance, has revamped key, white-collar crime enforcement policies, including clarifying fine reductions in its self-disclosure program and curbing its use of monitorships.
Crypto firms brace for tighter UK oversight as FCA plots integration with financial markets
Trying to put rules in place to oversee an industry that has grown largely outside of regulation is not without serious challenges. But the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest consultation aims to attract industry views about how some key aspects of crypto trading should be regulated ahead of planned ...
Seven years in, GDPR faces growing challenges from AI and ‘consent or pay’ models
Europe’s pioneering data protection legislation turned seven years old in May, but the compliance and enforcement difficulties that have dogged the rules since they came into force look set to present both companies and data regulators with fresh headaches for some time to come.
DOJ charges crypto executive with laundering $530M for sanctioned Russian banks
The Department of Justice has charged the founder of cryptocurrency company Evita with 22 violations for allegedly laundering more than $500 million through U.S. banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, on behalf of sanctioned Russian entities.
What is AI washing and why companies need to stop exaggerating their AI prowess
The buzz around generative AI has reached fever pitch over the past few years—to such an extent that it’s practically a death knell for any company to say it’s not investing massively in gen AI to transform their business. There’s only one problem: many companies are either being misleading or ...
SEC Chair Atkins signals end to ‘regulation by enforcement’ in line with Trump’s pro-crypto agenda
The Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins explained his agency’s shift on cryptocurrency regulation to a Senate committee as legislators bargain over President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” and the GENIUS Act, which would have the federal government invest heavily in cryptocurrency.
Supply chain disruptions caused by Republican policies should be managed
If you’re in third-party risk management, handling the latest disruptions brought on by wild gyrations in tariff rates and export control rules by Republican leadership ought to be child’s play.
Communication and relationships is increasingly critical for compliance teams
Compliance is increasingly in the spotlight as companies are tackling everything from artificial intelligence and other new technologies to risk management and mitigation. But it’s soft skills of communication and relationship building that are becoming the most critical tools for success.
U.K. reins in crypto firms to combat ‘scandal’ of freewheeling finfluencers
Up to 25,000 people a year in the U.K. are illegally promoting financial products or offering financial advice on social media, but none have yet appeared in court, according to the first Treasury Select Committee meeting on the subject of so-called “finfluencers.” Regulated financial services firms must comply with strict ...
ESG goes beyond politics: Vendor management, forced labor, sustainability
ESG is no longer in vogue. But its issues still are.
In a world filled with uncertainty, boards need to focus on connecting dots
Regulators and investors increasingly say boards of directors need more expertise to ensure they can respond to fast-changing politics, policy, and technology that threaten to undermine their businesses. In the U.K., government officials say boards need to think more about cyber. In the EU, they need to prepare for the ...
SEC drops Binance lawsuit as Trump admin continues reshaping crypto enforcement
The Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its case against cryptocurrency exchange Binance, just the latest in a string of dismissals that highlight the SEC’s change of course under the crypto-friendly Trump administration.
UK regulator’s efforts to coax self-reporting fraud could fall flat, experts warn
To both clean up corporate behaviour and rack up its own enforcement record, the UK’s anti-bribery agency has seemingly largely guaranteed companies a pass from prosecution if they spill the beans on their misconduct. There’s only one problem: experts believe businesses may still stand a better outcome if they front ...
CPSC firings spark legal fight as Trump continues ousting independent officials
Three former commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission who were fired by President Donald Trump earlier this month have filed a lawsuit against the government over their dismissal. The move joins many more court battles over Trump’s sudden slashing of government agencies, which some courts have deemed illegal, blocking ...
Why tight controls matter for financial content on social media, says FPC’s O’Shaughnessy
Financial Planning Corporation is a regulated financial planning firm founded 40 years ago, gaining coveted Chartered status in 2008. As the U.K. financial regulator, the FCA promises to clamp down on unregulated “finfluencers” on social media. Moira O’Shaughnessy, managing partner and head of risk and compliance at FPC, explains why ...
Unicoin defrauded investors through future crypto token scam, SEC alleges
The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged cryptocurrency company Unicoin, three top executives, and its general counsel with defrauding investors of $110 million by selling them bogus “rights certificates” in a future cryptocurrency coin.
FTC orders GoDaddy to upgrade cybersecurity defenses following three breaches
The Federal Trade Commission has ordered web hosting company GoDaddy to implement a “robust” information security program following at least three data breaches that the agency said were aided by lax cybersecurity measures.
FTC shuts down student loan firms over deceptive debt relief practices
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took action against a pair of student loan debt relief companies for allegedly deceiving borrowers. The move came despite the Trump administration’s broader efforts to roll back enforcement actions against businesses since taking office.
Coinbase faces a leftover SEC probe as crypto enforcement loses steam
After dismissing its lawsuit against the crypto exchange Coinbase in March, a second investigation into the exchange by the Securities and Exchange Commission has surfaced, according to a report from the New York Times. This comes as a bit of a surprise after the Trump administration has been scaling down ...
States like New York, Pennsylvania stepping up to fill regulatory void left by federal agencies
As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau steps back from its core mission of protecting American consumers, states like New York and Pennsylvania are stepping up to fill the regulatory void.
SEC Chair Atkins advances Trump’s pro-crypto efforts, promising first market rules
The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission promised new sets of rules around cryptocurrency assets, saying his team intends to lay out regulatory frameworks around custody and “qualified custodians,” as well as guidelines around issuing and trading. The expected move marks the latest step in the U.S. government’s embrace ...
FTC pushes back timeline for ‘Click to Cancel’ Rule, raising compliance questions
The Federal Trade Commission was set to begin enforcement of the “click to cancel” rule on May 14, but a new announcement from the agency pushed that date to July 14. As is the case with many of the regulatory decisions by the Trump administration, it’s unclear whether the agency ...
SEC drops Morgan Stanley cash sweep case: Sign of the times?
A decision by the Securities and Exchange Commission to close an investigation into the cash sweep program at Morgan Stanley may affect decision-making at other financial institutions under similar scrutiny.
Buy now, pay later firms catch a break as CFPB backs off enforcement
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) signaled a softer regulatory approach last month, easing its investigation of financial firms following the U.S. government’s broader efforts under President Donald Trump to scale back regulatory enforcement on businesses. The agency reaffirmed this pivot as it will ease scrutiny of “Buy Now, ...
FinCEN proposes bar on Cambodian company due to alleged money laundering
A Cambodian financial company, the Huione Group, has laundered billions of dollars for international criminals and those linked to North Korea, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The agency proposes that the company should be severed from having access to the U.S. financial ...
UBS to pay $511 million fine over Credit Suisse tax case, exposing compliance gaps
A significant settlement in a U.S. tax fraud case against Credit Suisse contains numerous compliance lessons related to beneficial ownership and due diligence in mergers and acquisitions.
In continuing re-evaluation of FCPA cases, DOJ ends Albemarle FCPA reporting
The Department of Justice has ended another FCPA-related compliance action more than a year early. This scaling back of regulatory enforcement by the federal government has been a growing trend since the start of the Trump administration.
Delayed UK antitrust case underscores compliance, reputational risks
Antitrust infringement cases in the United Kingdom can run on for years, but there’s a question whether issuing fines that are dwarfed by the revenues of those organisations involved is a worthy deterrent—particularly if they are imposed over a decade after the misconduct ended. It’s also debatable whether the first ...
Despite uncertainty, whistleblowers still have incentives to report misconduct
Whistleblowing in the United States is being buffered by uncertainty from regulators who are backing off policing corruption and consumer protections. Regulators like the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are being thrown into disarray by layoffs and restructuring. Still, whistleblowers will likely continue coming forward.
How to convince companies about compliance during deregulation
At some point, many compliance professionals say they’ve met an executive who approached their role dismissively. “I don’t want to talk about anything that doesn’t bring money in the door,” one attendee remembers a senior executive saying to them.
FTC sues Uber over deceptive subscriptions, a rare move for consumers by Trump officials
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ride-hailing company signed customers up for its Uber One subscription without consent, then made it hard for them to cancel. The move marks the U.S. government’s latest broadside against big tech companies, and the first major action from ...
UK’s deregulation drive raises compliance risk, say top lawyers
The United Kingdom’s latest effort to encourage regulators to pare down rules to attract companies and investment as a way to stimulate the economy has received mixed reviews from lawyers.
CFPB pullback signals further shift toward industry-friendly regulation
The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continues to unravel amid pressure from Trump administration officials to shutter the agency. Not only has the agency informed its employees that it will no longer be a watchdog for the financial services industry, it has also laid off employees despite court orders blocking ...
Ex-FBI informant says three things can save companies from themselves
Tom Hardin paid the price for crossing legal and ethical lines as a financial analyst accused of insider trading in one of the most notorious Wall Street scandals. Now he’s on a mission to save businesses from themselves. A keynote speaker at Compliance Week National, he built a second career ...
Trump’s CFPB, dismissing Comerica case, continues to cut down Biden-era lawsuits
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped yet another consumer protection lawsuit against a bank or fintech provider since Donald Trump was sworn in as president in January. This time, it was with Comerica Bank.
Cash App parent to pay $40 million for alleged BSA/AML violations in New York
Block Inc., maker of the popular Cash App, has been hit with a $40 million fine by New York for its alleged failure to report suspicious activity. The move marks the latest in a string of recent state and federal enforcement actions against the company.
DOJ disbands crypto investigation unit, another sign of the Trump administration’s support of digital currency
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) disbanded its crypto investigation unit on Monday, marking another step from President Donald Trump to support the crypto industry and lighten the regulatory burden of potential crypto crime investigations that had started under the Biden administration.
EU looking to scale back GDPR in coming weeks
The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation has been in effect since 2018, requiring companies to securely handle users’ personal data. The European Commission will reportedly review the regulations and claw back some of the rules, which could make doing business in Europe a little easier for these companies.
Companies unprepared for European Accessibility Act as June deadline looms
An accessible website should be a basic requirement for businesses, allowing the largest number of people to access a company’s content and services. With technology as an enabler, it also makes good business sense. After all, why would any organization want to hinder customer access? However, many websites are not ...
FTC case against insulin price gouging halted after commissioners fired by Trump
A Federal Trade Commission case against insulin price gouging has come to a screeching halt after two Democratic commissioners were fired by President Donald Trump.
Dismissed Democrats on Federal Trade Commission sue Trump administration
Two former Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission–Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter–filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and the remaining commissioners, claiming their recent termination was without cause and that the courts should rule their dismissals as “unlawful and ineffective.”
FRC fines PwC, auditor combined $4.1M over 2019 work of Wyelands Bank
The U.K. Financial Reporting Council issued penalties against PwC and a former auditor over deficiencies on work related to the 2019 financial statements of now shuttered Wyelands Bank.
DOJ fines MORSE Corp $4.6M for lax cyber controls amid crack down on federal contractors
Yet another government contractor has been slapped with a fine by the Department of Justice for applying lax cybersecurity defenses on sensitive government data.
EU regulator questions 'culture of compliance' with Digital Markets Act at Apple, Google
The European Commission released its preliminary findings last week regarding Apple and Google not complying with the Digital Markets Act. It issued orders to both companies regarding their business practice and plans to release all of its findings next week.
Treasury reversal of OFAC sanctions against Tornado Cash signals eroding AML scrutiny
The U.S. Treasury Department lifted its sanctions against cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash on Friday after a federal appeals court ruled in November the penalty levied by the agency’s Office of Foreign Assets Control was an overreach.