Counter-Terrorism in New Europe

In recent years the nature of terrorism has changed dramatically and has taken on a new combination of characteristics. The fight against this terrorism has become a global concern and central issue of international government policies. Counter-terrorism policies have transformed all around the world, and the importance states place on certain aspects of their counter-terrorist measures vary considerably. There is no agreement on how best to fight terrorism. Within the European Union (EU) this disagreement is the most visible, with some countries supporting the United States in their military fight against terrorism, while other strongly oppose it. This paper will focus on five of the ten new EU members that joined in 2004 (Estonia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Malta) and review some of their existing counter-terrorism measures. In doing so the paper will examine the strengths and weaknesses of each individual state’s policy and highlight some of the general trends and patterns among them

Terrorist Financing and Money Laundering

Terrorism  causes  enormous  costs  to  society.  Since  the  9/11  attacks,  the  “war  on  terror”  has  therefore  been  an  important  challenge  to  all  civilized  countries.  In  the  present  contribution  we  analyze the root causes and costs of terrorist activity, thereby setting the stage for discussing the  need for measures against terrorist financing. We argue that running a terrorist organization requires  substantial financial resources which are transferred to the groups through clandestine and often  illegal channels. Anti-money laundering policies may appear useful measures to stop transfers to  terrorist groups; however, they are not sufficient means to deal with all facets of terrorist financing.  Compared  to  similar  activities  of  organized  crime,  terrorist  financing  involves  “reverse”  money  laundering. This is a consequence of some fundamental differences between terrorism and organized  crime, which also lead to different implications in terms of choosing appropriate counter-measures.terrorist financing, causes and costs of terrorism, money laundering, organized  crime vs. terrorism, anti-terrorist financing policies

Preventing, Punishing and Eliminating Terrorism in the Western Hemisphere: A Post-9/11 Inter-American Treaty

Part I of this Article will provide a brief background to the fight against terrorism as seen from an inter-American legal and institutional standpoint. Part II will discuss the more significant details of the Convention and the negotiations in the Permanent Council\u27s Working Group that produced it. In II(A), the authors review the conflicting views among delegates about whether the OAS should have been negotiating a “comprehensive” anti-terrorism treaty (complete with a legal definition of terrorist acts) or follow the suggestion of the United States and adopt a less ambitious treaty providing some “added value” (by incorporating by reference the law-making of previous United Nations (“U.N.”) terrorism treaties). In II(B), the authors discuss treaty provisions dedicated to cooperation among hemispheric governments. In II(C), the Article explains treaty provisions on denying terrorists the benefits of asylum, refugee status, and the political offense exception in extradition law. In II(D), the treaty\u27s role as a supplement to other extradition treaties is noted. In II(E), the Article discusses what the treaty says about the money side of terrorism--what the hemisphere will do about tracking money, money laundering, and asset forfeiture. In II(F), the controversy over whether to mention human rights in the Convention is explained. In II(G), the authors discuss treaty provisions on permitting the transfer of prisoners among different countries in the Americas. In the Conclusion, the authors note that the American republics have taken a significant step forward in the codification of international law by negotiating a practical multilateral instrument

Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning: Considerations for Financial Institutions for Compliance with the Regulatory Burden in the United Kingdom

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 rate of technological innovation, the ability of AI systems to think like a human-beings (simulate human intelligence) and perform tasks independently and 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.) and screen for ‘problems’ earlier and provide solutions provides astounding benefit in economic, political and social terms. The purpose of this article 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, domestic and international published literature. The first part of the article 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 at 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: The work is original because it is the first 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

Aligning anti-money laundering, combating of financing of terror and financial inclusion : Questions to consider when FATF standards are clarified

Purpose &ndash; The purpose of this paper is to identify key questions that should be addressed to enable the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to provide guidance regarding the alignment of anti-money laundering, combating of financing of terror and financial inclusion objectives.Design/methodology/approach &ndash; The paper draws on relevant research and documents of the FATF to identify questions that are relevant to consider when it formulates guidance regarding the alignment between financial integrity and financial inclusion objectives.Findings &ndash; The FATF advises that its risk-based approach enables countries and institutions to further financial inclusion. It is, however, not clear what the FATF means when its uses the terms &ldquo;risk&rdquo; and &ldquo;low risk&rdquo;. It is also unclear whether current proposals for financial inclusion regulatory models will necessarily limit money laundering (ML) aswell as terror financing risks to levels that can be described as &ldquo;low&rdquo;. The FATF will need to clarify its own thinking regarding low money laundering and low terror financing risk before it will be able to provide clear guidance to national regulators and financial institutions.Originality/value &ndash; This paper was drafted to inform current FATF discussions regarding guidance on financial inclusion. The questions are relevant to all stakeholders in financial regulation.<br /

Can artificial intelligence, RegTech and CharityTech provide effective solutions for anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing initiatives in charitable fundraising

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 article 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 United Kingdom; 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 article explores the current obligations and risks charities face, these are then, in the second part, set against the examination of potential technological solutions as at 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: The work 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

The Drug Problem and Organized Crime, Illicit Financial Flows, Corruption and Terrorism

An estimated quarter of a billion people, or around 5 per cent of the global adult population, used drugs at least once in 2015. Even more worrisome is the fact that about 29.5 million of those drug users, or 0.6 per cent of the global adult population, suffer from drug use disorders. This means that their drug use is harmful to the point that they may experience drug dependence and require treatment.The magnitude of the harm caused by drug use is underlined by the estimated 28 million years of "healthy" life (disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)) lost worldwide in 2015 as a result of premature death and disability caused by drug use.Of those years lost, 17 million were attributable solely to drug use disorders across all drug types. DALYs attributable to morbidity and mortality resulting from all causes of drug use have increased overall in the past decade.Yet, with fewer than one in six persons with drug use disorders provided with treatment each year, the availability of and access to science-based services for the treatment of drug use disorders and related conditions remain limited

Global Financial Information, Compliance Incentives and Conflict Funding

Interdiction of terrorist funds has become a priority for intergovernmental cooperation. Logically, this initiative should affect SDM financing as well as conflict funding more generally - particularly where incumbent states can outlaw such movements. However, multilateral and unilateral attempts to ensure timely reporting of transactions made by targeted individuals or groups, and to deny them access to the international financial system, have had limited success. This is mainly due to economic disincentives for the disclosure of the identity and purpose of transacting agents, particularly those using correspondent banking services, informal money transfer networks and offshore financial centres. Solutions should be based on positive incentives for disclosure, and could include trans-border withholding taxes on transactions with unregulated clients and the provision of affordable transfer systems for emigrants. But this in turn would require a clear and practicable definition of the 'right to self-determination' in terms of international jurisdiction.