Google’s Security Algorithm For Payments

Speaking at a Wall Street Journal forum in New York, Google Chief Compliance Officer Andy Hinton said Tuesday (April 21) that the world’s most successful search firm has turned its expertise in data analysis to compliance and is working to develop an algorithm that can spot suspicious payments.

According to WSJ, Hinton reportedly told the crowd that the compliance algorithm so far has not found a corrupt payment while “looking” across the payments database – but that it has upped Google’s efficiency in compliance and brought the internal audit department into the compliance “sphere of influence.”

“[Google is] much more efficient ins spotting fraud,” Hinton noted.

Hinton highlighted that this ability is becoming increasingly important as Google pursues more work with governments internationally – for example, Hinton remarked that the firm builds cultural centers and parks worldwide but does so in a way that does not appear to be an attempt at bribery under local law.

In reference to Google Earth, Hinton noted Google’s myriad of “challenges in all different continents,” including working “with people with their hands out,” when moving vehicles and equipment across borders during its effort to map the world, WSJ reported.

Hinton also separately addressed Google’s mission-based, as opposed to rules-based compliance program – and that even as early as the hiring stage Google has a clear vision of who can get on board with the mission they are pursuing and who might not be a good fit.

“When I interview someone and all they talk about is winning…that’s a huge red flag for me,” Hinton told WSJ.