Search results

1 – 10 of 29
Article
Publication date: 30 November 2020

Charanjit Singh and Wangwei Lin

Artificial intelligence has had a major impact on organisations from Banking through to Law Firms. The rate at which technology has developed in terms of tasks that are complex…

1347

Abstract

Purpose

Artificial intelligence has had a major impact on organisations from Banking through to Law Firms. The rate at which technology has developed in terms of tasks that are complex, technical and time-consuming has been astounding. The purpose of this paper is to explore the solutions that AI, RegTech and CharityTech provide to charities in navigating the vast amount of anti-money laundering and counter-terror finance legislation in the UK; so that they comply with the requirements and mitigate the potential risk they face but also develop a more coherent and streamlined set of actions.

Design/methodology/approach

The subject is approached through the analysis of data, literature and, domestic and international regulation. The first part of the paper explores the current obligations and risks charities face, these are then, in the second part, set against the examination of potential technological solutions as of August 2020.

Findings

It is suggested that charities underestimate the importance of the nature and size of the threat posed to them, this is significant, as demonstrated, given the growing size and impact of the sector. Technological solutions are suggested to combat the issues charities face.

Originality/value

The study is original because it is the first to create the notion of CharityTech and to specifically explore what technological advances can assist charities in meeting the regulatory compliance challenge.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 24 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 July 2016

Jon Truby

Under scrutiny in light of the growing threat of international terrorism, Qatar faces pressure and accusations that it is not doing enough to counter terror financing and clamp…

Abstract

Purpose

Under scrutiny in light of the growing threat of international terrorism, Qatar faces pressure and accusations that it is not doing enough to counter terror financing and clamp down money laundering. The issue is not that Qatar is avoiding positive action, but that by the time measures are implemented, they become outdated because the international community has by then tightened its regulatory requirements. Qatar’s slow pace has led to a case of cat-and-mouse chase with respect to updating its standards, with a revised set of rules being required by the time Qatar implements the last set of international standards. This study aims to draw on lessons from the past to help Qatar avoid findings of it falling below international standards in the upcoming 2017 mutual evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

The primary purpose of this article is to catalogue Qatar’s efforts to comply with international anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terror finance standards. It demonstrates the real legislative progress post-2008 recorded by Qatar to minimize money laundering and terrorist financing. The paper also contests the view that Qatari law is insufficient.

Findings

The paper explains Qatar’s efforts to comply with the recommendations made by each evaluation by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It also highlights the potential for Qatar to be caught out again by the evolution of international expectations in an upcoming review, which, it is understood, is likely to take place in 2017.

Originality/value

No article exists specifically on this research field. As Qatar prepares for its 2017 FATF evaluation, it should be reminded of the need to comply with all new standards.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2012

Nicholas Ridley and Dean C. Alexander

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic intelligence oversights with regards to the funding of terrorism.

2802

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic intelligence oversights with regards to the funding of terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper considers the modus operandi of terrorist financing, and how and how speedily or otherwise they were identified, and the international and national anti‐terrorist financing measure implemented post 9/11.

Findings

The paper concludes that there were (and still are) strategic oversights, delays and distractions by government law enforcement and financial regulatory agencies in combating terrorist financing.

Practical implications

The paper suggests there should be more proactive exchange of intelligence by law enforcement and financial regulatory agencies in combating financing of terrorism.

Originality/value

The added value is lessons learned in international efforts against financing of terrorism.

Article
Publication date: 3 October 2016

Jon Truby

This paper aims to track Qatar’s progress in preventing abuse of charitable status or of its financial regulations to prevent terror finance.

3766

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to track Qatar’s progress in preventing abuse of charitable status or of its financial regulations to prevent terror finance.

Design/methodology/approach

Qatar’s progress towards meeting the demands of the Central Themes will thus be summarised and explored. This paper tracks its history in response to evolving Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, and considers how Qatar can take measures to enhance their reputation.

Findings

Qatar’s efforts were found to be sustained but these still fall short of emerging standards. This paper advocates for higher standards.

Originality/value

This original paper and novel approach is useful to policymakers and researchers of AML/CTF law. It is particularly timely in advance of the 2017 mutual evaluation of Qatar. It advances the findings of on another article written by the author.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 19 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 February 2023

Roy Majed Sinno, Graham Baldock and Kimberly Gleason

The purpose of this study is to apply the regulatory dialectic to describe the evolution of trade-based money laundering (TBML) schemes, to describe three recent TBML innovations…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to apply the regulatory dialectic to describe the evolution of trade-based money laundering (TBML) schemes, to describe three recent TBML innovations uncovered by a large bank in the important global trade jurisdiction of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to provide recommendations for an effective regulatory response.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is a caselet approach with three examples of TBML schemes recently foiled in the UAE as well as an application of the regulatory dialectic literature to TBML.

Findings

The implications of the regulatory dialectic for research regarding TBML and associated regulation and compliance will enable regulators, the financial services sector and academics to understand TBML and the ever-evolving steps criminals are taking to circumvent the changing landscape of regulation and controls implemented by the financial services sector and customs tasked with mitigating such behaviour. This paper will bring awareness of the evolution of TBML, the controls and frameworks that may be used to prevent, detect and investigate some of the complex schemes of TBML.

Research limitations/implications

The regulatory dialectic theory provides insights into the evolution of TBML schemes as well as why compliance activities tend to be reactive, rather than proactive. The cases covered in this paper provide insights into the nature of this circular process between financial crime and regulation, which is useful for anti-financial crime professionals and regulators focusing on deterrence.

Practical implications

The UAE is a small, rapidly developing trade and finance center in the Middle East, surrounded by nations that are sanctioned, in active conflicts, politically unstable and/or highly corrupt. TBLM undermines the security of the UAE; the authors provide insights into criminal innovations and regulatory responses.

Social implications

To promote the safety and stability of the ten million residents of the UAE, and others in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it is important to understand the process of innovation in TBML schemes and regulatory response.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to apply the regulatory dialectic theory to TBML to describe innovation in TBML schemes and to provide cases describing contemporary TBML innovations in the MENA region.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 August 2021

Charanjit Singh, Lei Zhao, Wangwei Lin and Zhen Ye

Machine learning is having a major impact on banking, law and other organisations. The speed with which this technology is developing to undertake tasks that are not only complex…

Abstract

Purpose

Machine learning is having a major impact on banking, law and other organisations. The speed with which this technology is developing to undertake tasks that are not only complex and technical but also time-consuming and that are subject to constantly changing parameters is astounding. The purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which machine learning can be used as a solution to lighten the compliance and regulatory burden on charitable organisations in the UK; so that they can comply with their regulatory duties and develop a coherent and streamlined action plan in relation to technological investment.

Design/methodology/approach

The subject is approached through the analysis of data, literature and domestic and international regulation. The first part of the study summarises the extent of current regulatory obligations faced by charities, these are then, in the second part, set against the potential technological solutions provided by machine learning as of July 2021.

Findings

It is suggested that charities can use machine learning as a smart technological solution to ease the regulatory burden they face in a growing and impactful sector.

Originality/value

The work is original because it is the first to specifically explore how machine learning as a technological advance can assist charities in meeting the regulatory compliance challenge.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 August 2021

Munir Ahmad Zia, Rana Zamin Abbas and Noman Arshed

Pakistan is facing the momentous hazard of money laundering and a substantial risk of terror financing, which are seriously threatening its socioeconomic well-being. The purpose…

1141

Abstract

Purpose

Pakistan is facing the momentous hazard of money laundering and a substantial risk of terror financing, which are seriously threatening its socioeconomic well-being. The purpose of this paper is to gauge the challenges posed by these threats in contrast with the existing potential and expertise of legal entities. It also examines legal and procedural measures enforced as a counter-strategy for terror financing and money laundering and the AMLA 2010 and National Action Plan (NAP) for countering terrorism financing.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses an analytical and comparative method using figures and comparative data on the success of the NAP and AMLA 2010 as national counterterrorism strategies. Terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes are confronted with grave legal and procedural odds, noncooperation and performance issues and conflicts of interest on the part of the enforcers/politicians. This paper highlights the issues that seriously jeopardize strategies to stop money laundering and terror financing, such as geography, informal financial transfers and exchange systems, un-regulated charities and real estate sectors, the modest performance of enforcement agencies and lukewarm political support for the NAP.

Findings

The situation requires the improvement of weak legislation and poor coordination and the adaptation of technological advancements and novel counter-strategies, along with properly trained enforcement personnel.

Originality/value

This paper will prove to be a valuable reference for exploring the shortcomings and insights. This will provide useful information for legal and financial practitioners, academicians, research scholars, policymakers and journalists.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 April 2023

Charanjit Singh

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are having a major impact on banking (FinTech), health (HealthTech), law (RegTech) and other sectors…

Abstract

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) are having a major impact on banking (FinTech), health (HealthTech), law (RegTech) and other sectors such as charitable fundraising (CharityTech). The pace of technological innovation and the ability of AI systems to think like human beings (simulate human intelligence), perform tasks independently, develop intelligence based on its own experiences and process layers of information to learn ever-complex representations of data (ML/DL) means that improvements in the rates at which this technology can undertake complex, technical and time-consuming tasks, identify people, objects, voices, patterns, etc., screen for ‘problems’ earlier, and provide solutions, provide astounding benefit in economic, political and social terms. The purpose of this paper is to explore advents in AI, ML and DL in the context of the regulatory compliance challenge faced by financial institutions in the United Kingdom (UK).

Design/methodology/approach

The subject is explored through the analysis of data and domestic and international published literature. The first part of the paper summarises the context of current regulatory issues, the advents in deep learning, how financial institutions are currently using AI, and how AI could provide further technological solutions to regulatory compliance as of February 2023.

Findings

It is suggested that UK financial institutions can further utilise AI, ML and DL as part of an armoury of solutions that ease the regulatory burden and achieve high levels of compliance success.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to specifically explore how AI, ML and DL can continue to assist UK financial institutions in meeting the regulatory compliance challenge and the opportunities provided for financial institutions by the metaverse.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 31 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 August 2020

Daniel Dupuis and Kimberly Gleason

The purpose of this study is to describe the opportunities and limitations of cryptocurrencies as a tool for money laundering through six currently available “open doors”…

4446

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe the opportunities and limitations of cryptocurrencies as a tool for money laundering through six currently available “open doors” (exchange mechanisms). The authors link the regulatory dialectic paradigm to know your customer and anti-money laundering evasion techniques, highlight six tactics to launder funds with virtual assets and investigate potential law enforcement and regulatory alternates used to reduce the incidence of money laundering with digital coins.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology used is the analysis of significant recent events and the availability of “fintech” crime-fighting tools and a literature review focusing on the application of the regulatory dialectic to innovations in existing crypto-asset markets that make them compelling to money launderers.

Findings

The authors examine the illicit use of cryptocurrency through Kane’s regulatory dialectic paradigm, identify a number of avenues for crypto to fiat exchange that are still available for those seeking to launder money using digital coins, review recently “closed doors” and make recommendations regarding the regulation of crypto-related markets that may assist in making them less desirable for potential criminals.

Research limitations/implications

The research is constrained by the state of the market for crypto to fiat exchange as of time of writing; the technology and products to launder money using these open doors is continually changing (as predicted by the regulatory dialectic).

Social implications

The regulatory dialectic predicts that regulatory response is reactive and often increasingly burdensome or oppressive. There is continuous innovation in the cryptocurrency market, which seeks to preserve privacy and anonymity with which regulators seek to keep up. From a social perspective, the response of bank regulators worldwide to existing open doors for crypto to fiat exchange used for money laundering may prove costly to individuals engaging in legitimate transactions, as well as financial criminals and may also erode the ability of individuals to maintain privacy regarding their financial information.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, there are yet no broad overview regarding the feasibility of money laundering across crypto-related assets within the paradigm of the regulatory dialectic.

Details

Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-0790

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2022

Meiryani Meiryani, Gatot Soepriyanto and Jessica Audrelia

Money laundering and terrorism financing use the banking sector system illegally and result in enormous losses for the state and nation. Regulatory Technology (RegTech) is an…

Abstract

Purpose

Money laundering and terrorism financing use the banking sector system illegally and result in enormous losses for the state and nation. Regulatory Technology (RegTech) is an important part of effectively preventing money laundering and terrorism financing. However, the implementation of RegTech related to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, especially in the Indonesian banking sector, has not been widely studied and discussed. Therefore, this study aims to provide empirical testing evidence regarding the effectiveness of RegTech implementation in the Indonesian banking sector to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses primary data obtained through a survey distributed to 160 bankers who work in eight different banks in Indonesia with a 95% confidence level and a confidence interval of 7.75. The criteria needed to determine the sample in this study are individuals who actively work as staff whose work is directly related to banking; individuals who are actively working in banks registered with OJK; individuals who have been actively working in the banking sector in Indonesia for at least three years. The data that has been obtained were analyzed using the SmartPLS application to test the validity and reliability, descriptive statistics and structural models (inner model).

Findings

The results of this study indicate that electronic know your customer (eKYC), transaction monitoring (TM), cost and time efficiencies (CTE) influence the prevention of anti-money laundering (AML) and countering financing of terrorism (CFT) in the Indonesian banking sector. However, eKYC and CTE have little influence on AML-CFT in the Indonesian banking sector. Meanwhile, TM has a moderate influence on AML-CFT in the Indonesian banking sector. In addition, in general, most bankers agree that the bank they work for has followed the guidelines, policies and regulations that have been given.

Originality/value

This study uses the Indonesian banking sector as a research subject that raises the effectiveness of the implementation of the use of RegTech to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing.

Details

Journal of Money Laundering Control, vol. 26 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1368-5201

Keywords

1 – 10 of 29