Compliance & Ethics

CFPB Chief Calls for Bolstered Consumer Data Protections in Senate Testimony

The head of the nation's top consumer finance watchdog painted a chilling portrait of unchecked "financial surveillance" on Wednesday, as he issued an urgent call for Congress to implement far stronger safeguards around companies' collection and monetization of consumer data.

SEC Charges CEO with $21M "AI-Washing" Fraud at Recruiting Startup Joonko

The Securities and Exchange Commission recently charged Ilit Raz, CEO and founder of the now-defunct artificial intelligence recruitment startup Joonko, with defrauding investors out of at least $21 million.

BaFin Fines SFC Energy AG for Late Financial Reporting

SFC Energy AG, a company based in Germany, has been fined €189,000 ($203,000) by BaFin, the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, for violating securities laws around financial reporting.

FINRA Sanctions ACS Execution Services, TradeZero America for Violations

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) announced today that it has censured and fined two broker-dealer firms a total of $500,000 for violations related to securities short selling requirements, improper influencer marketing practices, and deficient privacy disclosures to customers.

PCAOB Sanctions Florida CPA Firm & Three Individuals for Quality Control Failures and Audit Violations

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has issued a settled disciplinary order against L&L CPAs, PA, a Florida-based public accounting firm, its President, Weixuan Tracy Luo, and two other associated persons, Andy Chow and Robert Kinzer. The sanctions come in response to violations of PCAOB rules and standards related to quality control, auditing, and reporting.

FinCEN's 2023 Report Highlights Robust Compliance Enforcement & the Power of Financial Data in Fighting Crime

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has released its Year in Review for Fiscal Year 2023, underscoring the critical role of regulatory compliance and enforcement in safeguarding the U.S. financial system. The report showcases how the bureau leverages the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data to combat money laundering, terrorism financing, and other financial crimes, while holding non-compliant entities accountable.

European Supervisory Authorities Highlight Cross-Sectoral Collaboration in 2023 Annual Report

In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, technological disruptions, and an increasing focus on sustainable finance, the Joint Committee of the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) has released its 2023 Annual Report, highlighting a year of significant cross-sectoral collaboration. The report, issued by the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), underscores their joint efforts in safeguarding the stability and integrity of the European financial sector.