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World-Check [1] is a database of politically exposed persons (PEPs) and 'heightened risk' individuals and organizations. World Check formed part of the Thomson Reuters Risk Management Solutions suite before being transferred to Refinitiv after a merger deal with The Blackstone Group in October 2018. [2]
World-Check was founded in 2000 by David Leppan and registered in London. Its database was powered by Uptime ITechnology, founded by Nikolaus Kimla. [3] In 2008, World-Check launched Country-Check, an index which ranks over 240 countries and territories worldwide in terms of risk.[ citation needed ]
In 2009, World-Check acquired IntegraScreen. [4] In 2011, World-Check received independent assurance under the International Standard on Assurance Engagements ISAE 3000.[ citation needed ] Also in 2011, Thomson Reuters acquired World-Check for their governance, risk management, and compliance unit. In October 2018, Thomson Reuters closed a deal with The Blackstone Group and, as a result of this merger, World-Check is owned by Refinitiv. [2]
World-Check is used by several financial firms, such as Lloyd's of London since 2008, [5] Maecenas,[ when? ] and SAI Global [ when? ] as a risk management partner. [6]
In 2017, World-Check admitted that the Palestine Solidarity Campaign should never have been placed on their database at all, and specifically, should not have been associated with terrorism. [7] World-Check agreed to pay compensation and apologize to Finsbury Park Mosque. [8]
In 2017, Quilliam founder Maajid Nawaz was found to have been listed as a terrorist in World-Check following an investigation by Vice. [9] Thomson Reuters subsequently removed his name from the list, apologized, and paid an undisclosed amount in damages as part of the settlement following the threat of a lawsuit by Nawaz. [10] [11]
