
Compliance Clarified – a podcast by Thomson Reuters Regulatory Intelligence
Series 10, Episode 4: Bribery and corruption outlook in the U.S. and UK for 2024
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The UK's Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, enacted in October 2023, significantly broadens legal accountability for corporate actions beyond just board members.
- The U.S. Treasury Department's intensified focus on corruption in 2024 reflects a strategic commitment to treating corruption as a critical national security issue.
Deep dives
UK's Economic Crime and Transparency Act
The UK's Economic Crime and Transparency Act (ECTA), passed in October 2023, represents a significant development in the legislative landscape regarding economic crime, fraud, and corruption. This act alters the prosecutorial landscape by enabling the prosecution of companies based on the actions of senior managers, rather than solely on board members being directly tied to the crime. The inclusion of a failure to prevent fraud clause expands the scope for legal action against companies with substantial revenues, creating a more robust framework against corporate wrongdoing. As 2024 unfolds, its implementation will be closely monitored to assess whether it leads to a resurgence in proactive prosecutions and an overall increase in accountability for corporate behavior.