Regulatory Scrutiny of Off-Channel Communications, Emerging Data Sources Heightens Governance and Compliance Risks

A broad cross-section of regulatory activity underscores just how valuable and risky data has become in the current business environment. More pointedly, scrutiny over “off-channel communications,” or “emerging data sources,” such as modern communications tools, collaboration platforms, personal devices and chat applications, is intensifying worldwide. U.S. authorities including the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity and Futures Trading Commission and the Department of Justice have released new requirements surrounding the governance of emerging data sources and have implemented severe penalties against financial services institutions that have failed to properly preserve, monitor and manage off-channel communications.