The Problem with Money Laundering as a Crime

Summary: The crime of money laundering allows for sweeping surveillance, turning the movement of money into a crime itself, not the underlying action. This approach captures innocent people and allows for arbitrary enforcement based on supposed intent, rather than focusing on actual criminal activity.

Insights:

• Targeting the movement of money, rather than the crime itself, leads to overreach and the capture of innocent individuals.
• The concept of "intent" in money laundering cases creates an environment ripe for arbitrary enforcement.
• Focusing on money laundering distracts from prosecuting the actual harmful actions committed with the money.

Proper Nouns:

• Government: The entity responsible for defining and enforcing laws, including money laundering regulations. They benefit from the broad surveillance enabled by this approach.

Research:

• What are the historical origins and legislative evolution of money laundering laws?
• What are the unintended consequences and potential abuses of overly broad financial surveillance?
• How can the balance between combating crime and protecting individual financial privacy be improved?