News, updates, and meaningful insights from the MBK Search team.

The Federal Trade Commission recently imposed landmark penalties against location data companies X-Mode Social and Outlogic over privacy breaches related to selling sensitive consumer GPS data without consent. The settlement order hands down strict prohibitions on precise location data sharing alongside tougher technical safeguarding mandates that together establish a new high-water mark for privacy and ethical data handling accountability.

In a January speech, Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman offered insights into bank regulators’ focus for 2024 following a turbulent 2023. MBK Search looked through the speech and pulled out these key takeaways.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently issued guidance to investment platforms and pension operators expressing concerns with how some firms retain interest earned on idle customer cash balances. This "Dear CEO" letter explains what information regulators sought, areas of noncompliance found, and steps now expected to satisfy FCA Consumer Duty rules.

Amid a torrid 2023, and looming elections, U.S. financial regulators face a tough 2024. MBK Search looks ahead at what's on the agenda for regulators over the next year.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has published its 2024-2026 priorities for ensuring bank resilience. As geopolitical and financial challenges persist across Europe, the ECB has identified three broad areas of focus for the next 24 months. MBK Search has produced this high-level take on what the bank’s plans and what risk managers across the continent can expect.

The SEC has adopted new rules to strengthen risk management practices and expand access to central clearing for US Treasury securities. The amendments aim to reduce systemic risk and costs for market participants by increasing central clearing of Treasury cash and repo transactions. MBK Search presents this high-level explainer of the new rule.

Nearly 200 countries at Cop28 have agreed to a historic deal explicitly pressing all nations to transition away from fossil fuels to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. MBK Search has looked through the agreement and produced this high-level digest.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has proposed new guidance to standardize listing voluntary carbon credit (VCC) derivative contracts on regulated exchanges. MBK Search has looked at the proposed guidance and pulled out five big takeaways:

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has released its 2024 operating plan detailing elevated supervision priorities for overseeing national banks and federal savings associations. With inflation high, rates rising, and recession possibilities looming, the agency aims to ensure banks are prepared to navigate heightened uncertainty.