On May 24, 2023, the Belgian Data Protection Authority (BDPA) declared unlawful and prohibits the transfers of personal data of Belgian “Accidental Americans” by the Belgian Federal Public Service Finance (BFPS) to the United States tax authorities pursuant to the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA). [1] The BDPA has ruled that the processing done under this agreement does not comply with all the principles of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the rules on data transfers outside the EU.  The ruling also asks the BFPS to advise the competent Belgian legislator of the defects identified by the BDPA.[2]

On April 19, 2023, U.S. Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin Mizer announced the creation of the Timber Interdiction Membership Board and Enforcement Resource (TIMBER), a working group of different departments of the U.S. government devoted to ending the illegal trade of plant and plant products, including timber, in international commerce.  The announcement was made at a roundtable established by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources.[1]

On May 22, 2023, the Irish Data Protection Commission (“the DPC”) announced the conclusion of its inquiry into Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (“Meta Ireland), examining the basis upon which Meta Ireland transfers personal data from the EU/EEA to the United States in connection with the delivery of its Facebook service. The DPC found Meta had infringed data privacy rights during this process.  Subsequently, the European Data Protection Board (“the EDPB”) in a decision on May 12, 2023  imposed an administrative fine in the amount of US$1.3 billion.

On May 19, 2023, the leaders of the G7 renewed their commitment to furnish the financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support Ukraine needs for as long as it takes.    They agreed to impose further sanctions and measures to increase the costs to Russia and those who are supporting its war effort.

On May 19, 2023, the United States, in coordination with the G7 and other international partners, increased its sanctions and other restrictive economic measures to further degrade Russia’s capacity to wage war against Ukraine. [1]

On May 9, 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Joseph James O’Connor, aka PlugwalkJoe, 23, pleaded guilty in New York to his role in cyberstalking and multiple schemes involving computer hacking, including the July 2020 hack of Twitter.  Spain extradited him on April 26, 2023.[1]

Catalytic converters are found in nearly all fuel combustion vehicles built over the last forty or more years.  The converters comprise part of a vehicle’s exhaust system and are designed to scrub carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants from the exhaust gases and convert the exhaust into much less harmful carbon dioxide vapor (CO2).  As the converters must operate at a temperature of around 400 degrees C, they are placed close to a vehicle’s engine, usually directly behind the exhaust manifold at the head of the exhaust system along the undercarriage of the vehicle.  The location and way they connect to the exhaust system render them easily accessible for removal by thieves, particularly on high-clearance vehicles (pickup trucks and construction equipment). 

Moldova is facing an inflection point in its efforts to strengthen its anti-corruption institutions and processes.   On May 2, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced criminal charges against former Moldovan Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and seven other people in a corruption case as a result of a concession that provided control of the country’s principal airport to an entity associated with businessman and politician Ilan Shor, who departed Moldova in 2019 after the election of pro-Western President Maia Sandu.[1]  On May 22, 2023, Veronica Dragalin, head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, called for the Superior Council of Magistracy to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the judge of the Buiucani Court of Chisnau who ordered the criminal proceedings against ex-deputy Vladimir Andronachi in the bank fraud case in a closed session at the request of the defense.[2]

On May 17, 2023, the Danish Tax Authority (Skattestyrelsen or SKAT)  won a final verdict in the Supreme Court  (also known as the Court of Cassation) in Dubai when the court denied an appeal from Sanjay Shah, the alleged mastermind and ringleader of the fraud.  As a result, Shah must repay DKK 8.5 billion (approximately US 1.2 billion).  The verdict is the first final verdict in favor of the Danish Tax Authority, which has brought several cases in various foreign courts.[1]

On May 4, 2023, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) released an expert report on the abduction of children in Ukraine by the Russian military and authorities.