All posts by Cooley

DOJ Warns of Harsher Punishment for Crimes Committed Using Artificial Intelligence

On February 14, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced that prosecutors would seek stricter sentences for crimes perpetrated using artificial intelligence (AI). Monaco also announced a new initiative – Justice AI – to study the effective use of AI in the justice system. Monaco’s comments are the latest confirmation […]

Online Service Providers: Obligations Under The UK’s Online Safety Act 2023

The UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA) 2023, which became law on 26 October 2023, imposes extensive new obligations on certain types of online service providers, requiring them to protect their users by identifying, mitigating, and managing risks relating to illegal and harmful content. The OSA applies to certain service providers […]

DOJ Announces New Safe Harbor Policy for Voluntary Self-Disclosure in M&A

The Department of Justice continues to make clear that one of its principal corporate enforcement priorities is encouraging companies to voluntarily self-disclose misconduct. To that end, the DOJ recently announced its decision to decline to prosecute Lifecore Biomedical, a pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer, despite evidence that employees of Lifecore’s […]

When Are Redactions Reasonable?

The long-running investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has provided several points of instructive guidance during its lifetime – and that trend looks set to continue. The most recent matter before the High Court[1] examined certain redactions the SFO made to a report it […]

Are Courts Reining in Causation and Remuneration in False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Cases?

In US ex rel. Martin v. Hathaway, the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit joined the US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in requiring False Claims Act (FCA) plaintiffs to establish a direct causal relationship between alleged kickbacks and specific healthcare claims. This decision widens an […]

Failing to Prepare is Preparing to Fail: UK Government Proposes ‘Failure to Prevent Fraud’ Corporate Criminal Offence

Economic crime has risen to such a level in the United Kingdom that UK Finance, a trade association for the UK banking and financial services sector, considers financial fraud to be a ‘national security threat’. More than £750 million was stolen from banking customers by fraudsters in the first half […]

DOJ Issues Further Guidance, Warnings on Ephemeral Messaging Apps

At the March 2023 American Bar Association National Institute on White Collar Crime, senior Department of Justice officials offered their most expansive guidance yet about the dangers of using ephemeral messaging for company communications. Officials noted that when conducting an investigation, DOJ prosecutors will consider a company’s use of ephemeral and […]

When the Whistle Blows, Listen Carefully – and Consider Self-Disclosure

On February 22, 2023, the US Department of Justice announced a new voluntary self-disclosure policy for corporate criminal enforcement in US attorney’s offices nationwide. The policy offers concrete and meaningful incentives – including significant discounts on fines and not guilty plea resolutions – for corporations that meet the criteria for […]

US Government ‘Strike Force’ to Block Foreign Adversaries From Obtaining Disruptive Technologies

Key takeaway The federal government sent another big signal that it’s stepping up efforts to keep cutting-edge, dual-use and military technologies out of the hands of adversarial foreign governments when it announced the launch of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force (DIS-TECH) on February 16, 2023. The strike force, led by […]