What areas of laws and regulations have the greatest impact on AML/CFT applications?

AML/CFT (Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism) applications are heavily influenced by various laws and regulations. The most impactful areas include:

Information security, data privacy, and cybersecurity – AML/CFT compliance relies on collecting and analyzing financial data. Data protection laws (e.g., GDPR) impact how financial institutions store, share, and protect sensitive customer information while ensuring that AML measures remain effective.

Foreign exchange control, and precious gemstone and metal dealing – Criminals often launder money through foreign currency transactions, gold, diamonds, and other high-value assets. Regulations governing these sectors help prevent financial crime.

Consumer protection, financial inclusion, and ESG – AML/CFT frameworks must balance risk mitigation with ensuring access to financial services (financial inclusion). Additionally, ESG policies play a growing role in identifying illicit financial.