Adverse Media Screening for compliance teams
Improve your AML and KYC compliance by proactively screening for customer risk. Detect reputational and regulatory threats early with real-time screening of enforcement data and trusted media sources.
By the time an individual or company appears on a sanctions list, the damage may already be done. Missed media signals can lead to fines, reputational harm, or customer loss.
Manual screening of negative news mentions is time-consuming, error-prone, and often outdated.
Automate the monitoring of official enforcement records and trusted media to detect high-risk customers early. Strengthen your AML compliance, reduce manual effort, and reinforce customer due diligence with real-time, relevant information.
With automated Adverse Media screening, compliance teams can move faster and make informed decisions on their customers. We deliver the data you need to make informed decisions - without the manual workload.
Get instant alerts when individuals or entities appear in trusted media or regulatory sources - enabling fast, informed action.
Automated monitoring replaces hours of manual news tracking and data entry - freeing your team to focus on investigations and decisions.
Receive clean, categorized insights you can trust - from official enforcement lists to reputable media sources, all in one streamlined view.
Easily integrate with your existing onboarding or monitoring process.
Screen individuals and entities for early signs of risk before entering a business relationship. Automate the screening of Adverse Media to speed up customer onboarding.
Monitor existing customers continuously for newly emerging risks. Negative news or regulatory actions can develop post-onboarding and require timely responses.
Apply deeper screening when dealing with high-risk individuals or jurisdictions. Adverse media screening complements other EDD tools by adding broader context.
Adverse media screening is the process of checking for negative news about individuals or entities to identify potential risks such as fraud, money laundering, or reputational damage. Companies should do it to ensure compliance with regulations and make informed risk-based decisions when engaging with customers, partners, or vendors.
Adverse media screening is not always a direct legal requirement, but is widely expected by regulators as part of a risk-based approach to anti-money laundering (AML). It supports enhanced due diligence, and failing to conduct it can lead to non-compliance with regulatory expectations.
We advise you to check with your legal counsel or a similar professional to understand the legal requirements regarding Adverse media in the markets you operate in.
ION Analytics is our Adverse Media data provider. They curate the two data sets for Adverse Media that we provide: Adverse Media REL (Regulatory Enforcement List) and the Adverse Media RRE (Reputational Risk Exposure) list.
Regulatory Enforcement List (REL)
The REL is compiled from publicly available sources, including:
- Financial and other regulatory authorities
- Law enforcement bodies
- Anti-corruption agencies
- Other official disciplinary organizations
The scope of these sources may vary by jurisdiction. REL content primarily reflects data from authoritative and regulatory bodies.
Reputational Risk Exposure List (RRE)
The RRE focuses on individuals and entities referenced in official government sources or credible mass media concerning criminal activity. This may include mentions of individuals/entities as:
- Wanted
- Charged
- Indicted
- Prosecuted
- Convicted
- Sentenced
Unlike the REL, the RRE includes a proprietary element. Entries undergo a qualitative review by ION Analytics before and after acquisition, supported by independent quality control measures.
Each organisation is responsible for creating procedures to follow up on Adverse Media hits. But some general best practices include:
- Receive an automated alert: Your screening system notifies you of a potential adverse media match.
- Assess the severity: Evaluate the media content's relevance and seriousness.
- Update risk profile: Reclassify the customer’s risk and apply Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) if necessary.
- Escalate internally: Notify compliance, document the review, and follow internal protocols.
- Take action: Continue with stricter controls, request more info, or exit the relationship.
- Report if required: File a SAR or notify the regulator if the suspicion threshold is met.
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