On April 13, 2021, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) issued a statement responding to questions concerning the exchange of personal data between public authorities under existing international agreements in different areas. The EDPB recalls the requirements of Article 96 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Article 61 Law Enforcement Directive (LED).[1] Those provisions require all international agreements concerning the transfer of personal data to third countries or international organizations which were concluded by the EU Members prior to May 24, 2016 or May 6, 2016, respectively, and which comply with EU law as applicable prior to that date, must remain in force until amended, replaced, or revoked.[2]

On April 15, 2021, a federal grand jury in San Francisco returned an indictment, charging a Houston-based tax attorney of conspiracy with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a private equity firm to commit tax crimes. The indictment also charges him with three counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of the CEO’s false tax returns for the 2012 to 2014 tax years.[1]

On April 13, 2021, Danish prosecutors charged three British and three United States nationals with defrauding the Danish government of more than $175 million through a German bank.

On April 14, 2021, the Biden Administration announced it imposed new sanctions against Russia for its alleged involvement in the U.S. 2020 election interference and the solar winds cyber infiltration. In a press statement, the White House announced new sanctions against six Russian companies with ties to Russian spy services cyber hacking and will expel 10 Russian diplomats in the United States. It also officially named the Russian intelligence service (SVR) for their alleged involvement in the SolarWinds hack that affected several U.S. agencies and a number of private firms. [1]

In April 2021, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of D.C. filed a lawsuit on behalf of a Michigan man that the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) placed on a no-fly list because he refused to become an informant.

On March 19, 2021, the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles unsealed a criminal complaint charging 10 Iranian nationals with operating an approximately 20-year-long scheme to evade U.S. sanctions on the Iranian government by concealing more than $300 million worth of transactions.  The transactions including buying two $25 million oil tankers for Iran through front companies in the San Fernando Valley, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United Arab Emirates. [1]

On March 19, 2021, the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), adopted the resolution and recommendation on strengthening financial intelligence units to improve illegal asset confiscation. The debate as well as recommendation and resolution were based on the report prepared by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.^[1]

On March 30, 2021, the United States Tax Court granted summary judgment to the Internal Revenue Service with respect to a taxpayer debtor/physician’s constitutional challenge to the IRS’ certification of the delinquent tax debt under IRC, § 7345. [1] The taxpayer’s outstanding tax balance was close to $500,000 and so the IRS turned to a new tool in its collection toolbox - § 7345.1.  Under this section, the IRS certified that Robert Rowen, the taxpayer, had a seriously delinquent tax debt to the Treasury secretary, who then transmitted the certification to the State Department.  The IRS notified Rowen of the certification.  At the time of the suit and the Tax Court’s opinion, the State Department had not taken any action concerning Rowen’s passport.  Nevertheless, Rowen petitioned the Tax Court, challenging the IRS’s certification as unconstitutional and a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).[2]

On March 23, 2021, the United Nations Council voted to open an inquiry into Sri Lanka’s alleged war crimes resulting from the three decades civil war.

On April 1, 2021, United States prosecutors announced the arrests of Adalberto Fructuoso Comparan-Rodriguez, also known as “Fruto,” and Alfonso Rustrian in Guatemala on March 30, 2021, on U.S. criminal charges.[1]