Discuss how emerging technologies and globalisation contribute to money laundering. Elaborate measures to tackle the problem of money laundering both at national and international levels.

Money laundering, disguising the proceeds of crime as legitimate wealth, has become faster and harder to trace as emerging technologies and globalisation dissolve borders and add anonymity.

How technology and globalisation contribute

• Cryptocurrencies and digital wallets: pseudonymous, borderless transactions enable layering beyond easy regulatory reach.
• Online banking and fintech: instant cross-border transfers, shell accounts and trade-based laundering exploit speed and volume.
• Globalisation: free capital flows, tax havens, offshore shell companies and round-tripping ease integration of illicit funds.
• Anonymising tools: dark web, mixers and mule accounts obscure the money trail.

Measures at national level

• Enforce the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) through the Enforcement Directorate and the Financial Intelligence Unit.
• Strengthen KYC norms, beneficial-ownership disclosure and real-time transaction monitoring; regulate virtual digital assets.

Measures at international level

• Comply with FATF standards and act on its recommendations.
• Deepen mutual legal assistance treaties, information exchange and cooperation through the Egmont Group and asset-recovery mechanisms.

Tackling laundering needs technology-driven surveillance and analytics, tighter regulation of virtual digital assets and fintech, capacity-building of investigative agencies, and coordinated global action to deny criminals safe havens and enable swift asset recovery.