TikTok bans mount across globe amid EU, U.S. crackdown
TikTok is suspending new features amid an inquiry by the European Commission into its compliance with the Digital Services Act, all while responding to a U.S. ban just signed into law.
CW2024 panelists explain why BYOD at center of off-channel comms debate
The Department of Justice’s renewed scrutiny toward a corporation’s approach to the use of personal devices strengthens the case for companies to get away from bring your own device, a panelist at Compliance Week’s 2024 National Conference argued.
FTC rule bans noncompetes; Chamber of Commerce sues to halt
Tens of millions of noncompete clauses included in employee contracts nationwide will be null and void by about Labor Day under a final rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission.
FCA exploring how Big Tech data can aid financial services
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority reemphasized its desire to work with Big Tech firms to examine how their data might be useful to the financial industry.
FCA publishes guidance on anti-greenwashing rule
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority issued new guidance on how to comply with its upcoming anti-greenwashing rule, which is set to take effect May 31.
SFO outlines five-year strategy amid ‘increasing pace of change’
The U.K.’s Serious Fraud Office said in a five-year strategic plan it’s “struggled to keep pace with demand” as ballooning casework shows no signs of slowing down.
EDPB decision sparks ‘consent or pay’ debate for Big Tech firms
Big Tech firms might need to rethink their plans to charge users for not selling their personal data for behavioral advertising following a decision by Europe’s primary data regulator.
U.S. agencies launch portal for reporting anticompetitive healthcare practices
The Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Health and Human Services partnered to create an online portal for the public to report instances of anticompetitive practices in the healthcare sector.
SEC risk alert warns investment advisers of marketing rule missteps
Examiners with the Securities and Exchange Commission found investment advisory firms have generally done well creating processes to comply with the agency’s amended marketing rule but some have fallen short in ensuring compliance.
CFPB rule streamlines nonbank supervision designation process
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau continued its push to establish supervisory authority over more nonbank financial companies with the adoption of a procedural rule to streamline the process for such designations.
DOJ pilot floats NPAs for whistleblowers involved in corporate misconduct
The Department of Justice launched a new pilot program that encourages voluntary self-disclosure by corporate executives who are themselves involved in financial misconduct, with the incentive of a nonprosecution agreement for those who help an agency investigation.
Treasury proposal seeks to expand CFIUS enforcement authority
A proposal by the Treasury Department would allow the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to seek more information as part of its review activities and enable “substantially” larger penalties in instances of noncompliance with relevant regulations.
What the DOJ’s whistleblower reward program needs to succeed
The Department of Justice is set to join a growing list of U.S. federal agencies to have a whistleblower reward program in place, but how impactful it will be at generating more white-collar investigations and prosecutions rides on its initial design, according to experts.
SEC commissioner bemoans lack of public dialogue, calls for CCO input
Hester Peirce of the Securities and Exchange Commission said the agency should form an advisory committee comprised of chief compliance officers as part of a wide-ranging critique of the agency’s efforts to engage with the public.
May 8 | Virtual Roundtable: Whistleblowing in 2024: What compliance officers need to know
Compliance Week is hosting a virtual roundtable in which we’ll explore the modern whistleblower landscape and what corporate compliance programs need to know to follow the rules while enabling a speak-up culture.
Experts: ESG gone mainstream, but new regs still create headaches
Environmental, social, and governance goals have gained acceptance from senior leadership because of upward pressure from employees, investors, and customers, according to compliance leaders speaking at Compliance Week’s 2024 National Conference.
Key lawmakers put forward bipartisan American Privacy Rights Act
A bipartisan consumer privacy bill released by Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) would provide the broad, comprehensive protections businesses and Americans have called for, according to the lawmakers.
New DHS strategy sets textiles up for added UFLPA scrutiny
The Department of Homeland Security announced a new strategy set to help close a loophole that allows certain textile-related shipments from China to enter the United States without scrutiny under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.
CW2024 leadership panel on navigating scrutiny, prep for more change
The global political landscape should be high on the risk radar of compliance officers in 2024, according to compliance leaders speaking at Compliance Week’s 2024 National Conference, along with increased regulatory scrutiny toward forced labor, ESG, and M&A.
CPPA warns of collecting too much data in first enforcement advisory
The California Privacy Protection Agency warned businesses to stop asking for excessive information from consumers who have requested to opt out of having their data collected or who are otherwise exercising their privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act.
Legal pushback prompts SEC to stay climate-related disclosure rule
The Securities and Exchange Commission delayed implementation of its climate-related disclosure rule until the courts can rule on appeals filed in response to the controversial policy.
CBP stats show persistent problem areas under UFLPA
It’s been nearly two years since the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act took effect, and as enforcement statistics and recent reports demonstrate, many businesses are still not adequately vetting their supply chains.
Need to know: How AI Act sets tone for AI regulation
The European Union’s AI Act follows a risk-based approach: the higher the risk the artificial intelligence poses, the stricter the rules. Understanding each category is key to compliance.
SEC to review registrants’ preparation for next-day trade settlements
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants broker-dealers and certain clearing agencies to know the expectations for the reduction of the settlement cycle for national and international trades from two business days after the trade date to one day.
CISA teases cyber incident reporting rule for critical infrastructure
Financial businesses and other critical infrastructure entities would have to report significant cybersecurity and ransomware incidents to the federal government under a new rule that will be proposed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
CPE webcast: Rapid expansion of global forced labor regulations
Join us as we dive into the best practices for performing due diligence across your entire supply chain—from the sourcing of raw materials to the delivery of finished goods—to become (and stay) compliant with this ever-evolving landscape.
U.K. sets recommendations to address misogyny in finance
Sexism, sexual assault, and bullying are rife at financial services organizations, according to a recent report by the U.K. Treasury Committee. “The government and financial regulators have important roles to play in driving change,” the committee said.
Big Tech practices draw early scrutiny under DSA, DMA
TikTok and X are under investigation related to their respective compliance with the European Union’s Digital Services Act, while the first three companies probed under the Digital Markets Act include Apple, Alphabet, and Meta.
U.S. BOI efforts earn it upgraded rating from FATF
The United States’s progress on implementing the beneficial ownership information reporting requirements contained within the Corporate Transparency Act earned it praise from the intergovernmental Financial Action Task Force.
EU regs for energy-efficient buildings raise questions for commercial property
Organizations with property in the European Union should be asking more questions about their sustainability and emissions in light of revised plans to decarbonize buildings across the region.
ICO primed for enforcement increase behind new fining guidance?
The Information Commissioner’s Office updated its data protection fining guidance to provide companies with greater transparency and clarity about how and why it would issue penalties for a breach of the U.K. General Data Protection Regulation or Data Protection Act 2018.
FDIC proposes strengthening, modernizing bank merger reviews
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation proposed to strengthen its approach to evaluating bank mergers under the Bank Merger Act, particularly how it would address factors like competition, financial resources, the convenience and needs of communities, financial stability, and money laundering.
BIS rule expands export control restrictions on OFAC sanctioned
The Bureau of Industry and Security adopted a final rule to extend its export restrictions across more entities and individuals designated under certain sanctions programs maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Experts: Legal noise around SEC climate disclosure rule no excuse for standing still
Legal experts are advising their public company clients to move forward with plans to comply with the SEC’s climate-related disclosure rule, despite lawsuits and other challenges being brought against the controversial policy in the aftermath of its approval.
EU due diligence directive back on track, despite concession concerns
The future of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive was thrown into doubt when the European Council failed to endorse proposals. The directive is back on track after being agreed upon, albeit in weaker form.
Policy changes underscore need for enhanced child labor due diligence
Rooting out potential child or forced labor violations in your company’s supply chain can have benefits beyond protecting reputation and being ethically sound. The process can also help your firm comply with pending child labor laws in other jurisdictions.
The auditor’s role in supply chain due diligence
Although compliance should be the company’s primary responsibility, auditors have become the last line of defense and are getting pressured and blamed for supply chain issues, including instances of child labor. Is this expected to become the normal for the profession?
Study: Climate transition impact reporting still lacking
Large polluters are failing to account for climate change impact and adaptation, but policymakers need to harmonize disclosure requirements to drive coherent action.
U.S. banking regs mulling enhanced operational resiliency frameworks
Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael Hsu said federal banking agencies are considering enhancements to their operational resiliency requirements for member banks.
DOL seeking more authority in crackdown on child labor violations
The Department of Labor has stepped up its enforcement of child labor law amid a concerning rise in child labor exploitation, yet the agency acknowledges its resources are not great enough to be a significant deterrent for such misconduct.
FTC restores bipartisan balance with Ferguson, Holyoak confirmations
The appointments of two new commissioners on the Federal Trade Commission were confirmed, with the Democratic-led agency welcoming Republicans Andrew Ferguson and Melissa Holyoak.
New Zealand banks to report material cyber incidents within 72 hours
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand added new reporting requirements for its member banks to follow if they suffer a material cyber incident and for all types of cyberattacks.
SFO director support for whistleblower incentives enough to drive change?
When Nick Ephgrave of the Serious Fraud Office said in his maiden speech he favored paying whistleblowers in exchange for information, he might not have been fully aware of the implications, according to legal experts.
DOJ eyeing more FCPA cases with whistleblower program
The Department of Justice anticipates its upcoming whistleblower reward program will help the agency increase its pipeline of cases involving apparent violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole Argentieri.
EU to ban sale of products made with forced labor
The European Union announced an agreement to ban products made with forced labor, a decision that will oblige organizations to track and declare more information about their supply chains for goods entering EU markets.
DOJ on sprint toward pilot whistleblower reward program
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the Department of Justice will look to fill gaps in its whistleblower procedures with the launch of a 90-day sprint toward a DOJ-led pilot whistleblower reward program.
SEC expands scope of order execution disclosure rule
Lost in the shuffle of the approval of its controversial climate-related disclosure rule, the Securities and Exchange Commission also adopted amendments to its rule for order executions in national market system stocks.
Monaco: ECCP update coming for management of AI risks
The Department of Justice is working on an update to its Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs guidance to spell out the responsibilities of compliance staff for managing artificial intelligence-related risks.
Concessions can’t save ‘cursed’ SEC climate disclosure rule from scrutiny
The Securities and Exchange Commission finally approved its ground-breaking climate-related disclosure rule, nearly two years since it was originally proposed. Though the agency significantly watered down aspects of its proposal, the rule is already facing the prospect of legal challenge.
Top brands shamed for U.K. minimum wage failings ahead of hike
The U.K.’s Department for Business and Trade named 524 businesses found to have failed to pay the national minimum wage, ahead of wage hikes for certain workers that will take effect April 1.