Established in March 2018, the programme recognises that better information sharing has enhanced the effectiveness of AML measures in recent years. Beyond these initiatives, however, wider changes are required in order to allow stakeholders to make the most effective use of this information and respond to new challenges.

The programme aims to answer two key questions:

How can core elements of the AML regime be improved to create an enabling environment for the use of technology?

Priority areas of research include:

1. Effective approaches to harnessing the opportunities that data analytics offer to AML supervisors, financial intelligence units and law enforcement agencies.
2. Regulatory changes needed in order to foster effective use of technologies for AML purposes by the private sector.

How should the AML framework be adapted in order to address today’s financial crime landscape?

Priority areas of research include:

1. The threat stemming from the proceeds of emerging crimes such as hacking, malware and DDOS attacks;
2. The vulnerabilities of online sectors such that call for innovative AML responses, such as virtual currency businesses, online gambling, online gaming and e-commerce.

Research for the Financial Crime 2.0 programme is carried out by RUSI's Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies.

The programme is now in its second year and is funded by EY and Refinitiv. Its first year was also sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group.