The US Department of Justice is cracking down on Walgreens for its role in the opioid crisis, holding the company accountable for failing to protect patients from addiction. As part of a settlement, Walgreens has agreed to improve compliance with rules around controlled substance dispensing and establish a compliance program with training, board oversight, and periodic reporting to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The agreement resolves four cases brought by former Walgreens employee whistleblowers, following a similar multi-state settlement between CVS and Walgreens in 2022 that resulted in over $10 billion in payouts.
https://apnews.com/article/walgreens-settlement-opioid-crisis-lawsuit-daf1cf197d0c04156d70e287ce2d62c1Walgreens has entered into an agreement with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to improve its compliance with rules around dispensing controlled substances. The company will establish and maintain a compliance program, including training, board oversight, and periodic reporting, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This settlement resolves four cases brought by former Walgreens employee whistleblowers, following similar agreements made by CVS in 2022, which resulted in over $10 billion in settlements.
https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/walgreens-to-pay-up-to-350-million-in-u-s-opioid-settlement/article_fc43fc49-cc39-5173-9bdb-7847daaba321.htmlThe US Justice Department has accused Walgreens of pressuring pharmacists to fill prescriptions quickly without verifying their legality, a practice that can lead to the dispensing of dangerous drugs for profit. Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated that pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances safely and professionally. As part of a settlement, Walgreens agreed to form an agreement with the DEA and HHS to address future compliance measures over the next seven years, including providing documentation. Whistleblowers who alerted the government to the allegations will receive 17.25% of the recovered funds from the settlement.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/health/medicine/walgreens-agrees-to-300-million-settlement-in-opioid-lawsuit-with-justice-departmentThe US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Walgreens, alleging that the company dispensed excessive quantities of opioids and unlawful prescriptions, including triple-drug combinations. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton claims that Walgreens violated the Controlled Substances Act and the False Claims Act. The company denies any liability, stating that its pharmacists prioritize patient safety. If found liable, Walgreens could face fines up to $80,850 per prescription.
https://www.kpax.com/news/national-news/walgreens-to-pay-300-million-to-settle-claims-it-illegally-filled-invalid-opioid-prescriptionsThe Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has seized cash worth Rs 3.29 crore and frozen assets worth over Rs 573 crore in connection with the Mahadev betting app case. ED conducted raids in several cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Indore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, and Sambalpur, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The probe agency also seized incriminating documents and electronic records from entities such as Vikas Ecotech Ltd., JTL Industries, Industrial Investment Trust Ltd. (IITL), and EaseMyTrip.
https://indiatoday.in/india/story/mahadev-betting-app-case-ed-seizes-cash-freezes-assets-worth-over-rs-573-crore-2712762-2025-04-22Instagram is cracking down on users under the age of 18 by using digital watchdogs to monitor and enforce its policies, including removing accounts that violate its community guidelines. The social media platform has been working with third-party companies to identify and flag potential violations, which can lead to account suspension or termination. This move aims to protect minors from online harm and ensure a safer experience for all users.
https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/ai-knows-you-are-not-18-heres-how-instagram-cracks-down-with-digital-watchdogs-11745324502725.htmlThe Metropolitan Police has been criticized for its handling of vetting procedures after hundreds of officers were put on paid leave due to concerns about their background checks. The decision was made following the murder of Sarah Everard by officer Wayne Couzens, who was found guilty of rape and murder. A retrospective vetting scheme was introduced, but a court ruling meant that bosses had no power to sack officers failing background checks. As a result, 29 officers are currently on paid leave at an estimated cost of £2million per year. The government has announced new rules to strengthen vetting procedures, including automatic suspension for officers under investigation for violence against women and girls, and automatic dismissal for those convicted of certain crimes.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14636271/Rogue-police-officers-suspected-criminals-sacked-absurd-High-Court-ruling-addressed.htmlMeta, the parent company of Instagram, is introducing AI-powered measures to detect if teenagers are faking their age on the app. The move comes after criticism over its privacy policies and the launch of teen accounts last year, which were designed specifically for underage users.
https://www.firstpost.com/tech/instagram-to-use-ai-to-catch-teens-faking-their-age-13881961.htmlSK Telecom, South Korea's largest mobile carrier, has reported a suspected case of USIM data leakage due to a cyberattack. The company stated that the leak was caused by malicious code introduced by a hacker.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/tech-and-telecom-law/sk-telecom-reports-suspected-user-usim-data-leak-in-cyberattack