In this episode, I spoke to Nick Raudenski, a seasoned investigator whose career journey spans both law enforcement and sports. We sat down to discuss the EU's new AML regulation labelling professional football clubs as so-called "obliged entities" for AML/CTF purposes.

Nick and I delved into his transition from federal law enforcement to the brave new world of football. He shared the challenges he faced, from understanding the intricacies of sports organizations to tackling significant issues like match-fixing, corruption, and other financial irregularities. Nick provides his unique insights into regulatory frameworks like UEFA’s Financial Fair Play and the upcoming EU AML regulations.

Tune in to learn more about the intersection of sports and financial crime, the regulatory landscape, and the need for specialized knowledge to implement effective compliance programs in football. Nick’s experiences provide a behind-the-scenes look at the critical efforts to preserve the integrity of the world's most popular sport.

For more detailed information on the subject, you can read our article in the June 2024 edition of the ACAMS Magazine accessible under the following link: https://www.acamstoday.org/european-football-clubs-under-afc-regulation/

In this episode, I spoke to Karen Nershi, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at IE University and a former Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University's Stanford Internet Observatory and the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).

Karen's research examines questions of international cooperation and regulation within international political economy, including challenges emerging from the adoption of decentralized digital currency and other new technologies.

Karen recently published a research paper titled "Assessing the Political Motivations Behind Ransomware Attacks". Her research led her to the conclusion that "the Russian government maintains an informal cooperative relationship with (ransomware) groups by providing safe harbor from prosecution and receiving plausible deniability for attacks and access to skilled cyber actors".

We spoke about Russia's weaponising of private ransomware groups against Europe and the United States, the sanctions imposed on those groups, general regulation of the cybercrime space, and the role of cryptocurrency and anti-money laundering regulation.

You can also find our recent publication on the subject here: https://www.globalriskaffairs.com/2024/01/when-ransomeware-strikes-navigating-risks-and-regulatory-responses/

In this episode, I spoke to Henrik Vold, a Norwegian journalist, instructor and a tech enthusiast. Henrik has had a long career in journalism during which he's simultaneously honed his technical skills. His current passion is helping journalists explore the world of artificial intelligence and incorporate it into their work.

He discusses the importance of journalists branching out into technical roles and learning data analysis skills. Henrik also talks about his involvement in creating tailor-made courses for organizations and his efforts to convey AI knowledge to a broader audience.

Throughout the interview, Henrik emphasizes the need for caution when using AI, especially with sensitive data, and stresses the importance of keeping information secure and maintaining a computer security mindset. He discusses the potential applications of AI, its limitations, and how it can serve as a support tool rather than a replacement for human creativity and artistry.

Henrik also shares insights into using AI for various purposes, such as transcribing interviews and generating meeting notes. He talks about iterative prompts to improve the AI's responses and mentions potential concerns about AI-generated content and copyright issues. Lastly, he discusses the evolving role of AI, the importance of news organizations in interpreting information, and how AI may influence the way people consume information in the future.

In today's episode of Integrity Insights I talk to Verena Horne, a senior consultant at Berlin Risk. We discuss the latest developments in the field of sanctions enforcement in the United States and the European Union. Verena explains why sanctions risk is top of the agenda for many internationally active companies, and talks about how this type of risk can be mitigated with the help of sanctions due diligence.

In the second episode of Integrity Insights, I talk to Vlada Tkach, a managing partner at Berlin Risk. We discuss the topic of commercialisation of disinformation by private actors in the post-Soviet space. Apart from illuminating the socio-economic reasons behind the development of a private disinformation market in the post-Soviet territory, Vlada provides many useful tips on how to distinguish authentic from inauthentic online content. Given the global nature of such private disinformation campaigns, often referred to as “disinformation as a service” or “disinformation for hire”, this conversation is relevant not just for compliance professionals.

You can also read our article on the subject on Berlin Risk's website https://berlinrisk.com/the-rise-of-disinformation-in-osint/

In the very first episode of Integrity Insights, I talk to Jennifer Hanley-Giersch, a managing partner at Berlin Risk. We discuss the topic of corporate ownership transparency in the EU. In our roles as investigators, we rely on publicly available company information. In recent months, access to information about actual owners of companies, the so-called "ultimate beneficial owners", has been invalidated by a ruling of the EU Court of Justice. Why did this happen? What does this mean for journalists, NGOs and due diligence investigators? Is the EU still committed to ensuring corporate transparency across the bloc? Find out the answers in this episode!