How a small Scottish telecom firm ended up in a major bribery scandal
What every SME can learn about bribery risk The recent sentencing of two company directors and two NHS employees in Scotland serves as a powerful reminder: Bribery and corruption are not confined to multinational corporations or overseas dealings. They can, and do, occur in small, seemingly innocuous firms operating in local markets. The […]
Germany moves to block DeepSeek. Will the rest of the EU follow?
In a landmark move that could reshape the competitive AI landscape in Europe, Germany’s Berlin Data Protection Commissioner has officially declared the data practices of Chinese AI firm DeepSeek to be unlawful under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Germany has asked Apple and Google to block the DeepSeek app from their stores. […]
Growing pressure to delay EU AI Act as member states speak out
The EU AI Act was once championed as the gold standard for global AI governance but is now facing calls for delay from some of its own leaders, most recently and notably, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Kristersson called the Act “confusing” and suggested that its rollout be paused until common technical standards are […]
Case study: Lessons from a crypto-enabled laundering case and a new breed of money launderers
In February 2024, Semen Kuksov was sentenced to five years and seven months in a UK prison for his role in a sprawling cash-to-crypto money laundering network. This was not a lone wolf criminal or a stereotypical gangster. Kuksov is a polished, multilingual 25-year old and the product of elite British education. He is part […]
FATF seeks a stronger global response to proliferation financing and sanctions
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released a landmark report, Complex Proliferation Financing and Sanctions Evasion Schemes, which emphasizes the persistent vulnerabilities within the global financial system to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and proliferation financing (PF). This call to action couldn’t come at a more critical time, as the international community grapples with […]
Case study: Bribery in the heart of USAID – What businesses can learn from the $550 million corruption case
Between 2013 and 2022, Roderick Watson, a contracting officer in USAID (US Agency for International Development), used his influence to steer lucrative government contracts toward specific companies, for a price of course. The scheme began when Watson accepted bribes from Darryl Britt, president of Apprio, Inc., to secure contracts reserved for small, disadvantaged businesses […]
The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 has passed. What happens next?
After years of political back-and-forth, the UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 has finally cleared Parliament and is awaiting Royal Assent. The Act introduces the most significant reforms to UK data law since the country retained the EU’s GDPR after Brexit. While it doesn’t completely rewrite the rules, it does mark a shift […]
Why Conversational Learning is a game changer for compliance eLearning
How Vinciworks is changing the compliance conversation with its new AI compliance training A smarter way to learn compliance Traditional compliance training has long struggled with the challenge of engagement. Learners are expected to absorb complex, often dry information through slide decks, videos, quizzes and games. It all starts to feel more like […]
Is your COLP equipped to succeed in the world of AML compliance?
The role of the Compliance Officer for Legal Practice (COLP) is far more vital than it is visible. Tasked with safeguarding the integrity and regulatory compliance of the firm, COLPs now carry the weight of complex demands, mounting regulatory scrutiny, and, often, a lack of understanding or support from their colleagues. Recent regulatory action […]
GDPR 7 years on: What’s going to change and what businesses need to know to navigate this new landscape
The FAQs you want answers to It’s hard to believe that GDPR, the landmark General Data Protection Regulation, has been in force for seven years. What began as a dense, unfamiliar piece of EU legislation has evolved into the global standard for data protection, shaping how organisations handle personal data in nearly every sector. From […]
