Justice Department Remains Strong on Antibribery, Despite Dip in Cases

Welcome to This Week In Compliance: GAN’s weekly news roundup, where we curate the latest stories on compliance and anti-corruption to keep you informed. This week, the DOJ reiterates its strong stance against FCPA violations, despite record low cases in 2021. Read the full story and more news below:

Top Story

Justice Department Remains Strong on Antibribery, Despite Dip in Cases

Despite having prosecuted a record low number of Foreign Corrupt Practice Act (FCPA) cases last year, the Justice Department says they will not be softening their stance on prosecuting such cases. In a forum address delivered this week, DOJ officials said that while the total number of cases last year was a decades-long record low, the threat of violations still remains high and that white-collar crimes remain a pillar of the current administration.

Government

Perception Index Shows Little Decline in Corruption

The rate of corruption worldwide for 2021 remains largely unchanged from the previous year, according to Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI). The annual report is a global ranking system that scores countries on their rate of corruption in areas such as bribery, nepotism, legal protections for whistleblowers, government transparency, and more. The top 3 least corrupt nations are Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand, while the 3 most corrupt nations are South Sudan, Syria, and Somalia.

Worldwide Law Enforcement Agencies Seize Popular VPN Provider on Cybercrime Claims

Authorities in 10 countries have shut down Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider VPNlab after claims that the company allowed cybercrime and ransomware attacks to occur by its users. A VPN allows users to encrypt their online activity and distribute internet connections through a global network of servers, largely privatizing and anonymizing their activity. According to officials, VPNlab was used by cyber criminals to facilitate hacking, ransomware attacks, and distribution of malware.

Business

Chinese Telecom Company Banned from US Over Spying Concerns

Chinese Telecom Company Unicom must cease operating in the United States, according to a unanimous decision by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The company has been ordered to end its telecommunications unit in the US after growing concerns about how it handles data, including the threat of spying through use of the network. The vote comes after years of scrutiny by the US of Chinese telecom companies, resulting in the banning of mobile devices by companies like Huawei, ZTE, and others.