{{Short description|Background check database}} {{Multiple issues| {{advert|date=April 2019}} {{COI|date=April 2019}} {{UDP|date=April 2019}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2022}} }}'''World-Check'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.lseg.com/en/data-analytics/financial-data/risk-intelligence/world-check-records | title=Access World-Check Data }}</ref> 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.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetradenews.com/thomson-reuters-closes-deal-blackstone-rebrands-refinitiv|title=Thomson Reuters closes deal with Blackstone, rebrands as Refinitiv - The TRADE|website=www.thetradenews.com}}</ref>
==History==
World-Check was founded in 2000 by David Leppan and registered in London. Its database was powered by Uptime ITechnology, founded by Nikolaus Kimla. <ref>{{cite web |title=World Check: What Is, How To Remove Your Data, What are the Lists |url=https://reputation-up.medium.com/world-check-what-is-how-to-remove-your-data-what-are-the-lists-7b1498117270 |website=Medium |access-date=9 July 2025}}</ref> In 2008, World-Check launched Country-Check, an index which ranks over 240 countries and territories worldwide in terms of risk.{{cn|date=September 2022}}
In 2009, World-Check acquired IntegraScreen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spectrumequity.com/news/world-check-acquires-integrascreen|title=World-Check Acquires IntegraScreen|website=www.spectrumequity.com|date=2009-02-03|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822005239/https://www.spectrumequity.com/news/world-check-acquires-integrascreen|archivedate=2015-08-22|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, World-Check received independent assurance under the International Standard on Assurance Engagements ISAE 3000.{{cn|date=September 2022}} 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, which, at the end of August 2023 changed its name to LSEG.<ref name="auto" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lseg.com/en/simplifying-the-brand |title=Simplifying our brand |work=LSEG (lseg.com) |date=23 August 2023 |access-date=16 October 2025 |archive-date=16 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016211547/https://www.lseg.com/en/simplifying-the-brand}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lseg.com/content/dam/lseg/en_us/documents/faq/benchmark-and-indices-rebrand-faqs.pdf |title=FAQ: Refinitiv Benchmarks and Indices Rebrand |work=LSEG (lseg.com) |date=September 2023 |access-date=16 October 2025 |archive-date=16 October 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016212402/https://www.lseg.com/content/dam/lseg/en_us/documents/faq/benchmark-and-indices-rebrand-faqs.pdf}}</ref>
==Partnerships== World-Check is used by several financial firms, such as Lloyd's of London since 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/22675/lloyds-selects-world-check-for-due-diligence-and-kyc-compliance|title=Lloyd's selects World-Check for due diligence and KYC compliance|date=July 31, 2008|website=Finextra Research}}</ref> Maecenas,{{when|date=September 2022}} and SAI Global{{when|date=September 2022}} as a risk management partner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saiglobal.com/en-au/risk/vendor_risk/third-party_risk_management_and_thomson_reuters_world_check/|title=Third-Party Risk Management and Thomson Reuters World-Check|website=www.saiglobal.com|access-date=2019-03-01|archive-date=2019-03-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302024554/https://www.saiglobal.com/en-au/risk/vendor_risk/third-party_risk_management_and_thomson_reuters_world_check/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Controversies== ===False claims=== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://imemc.org/article/palestine-solidarity-campaign-removed-from-world-check-terrorist-listing/|title = Palestine Solidarity Campaign Removed from World-Check Terrorist Listing |date = July 2017 |publisher=International Middle East Media Center}}</ref> World-Check agreed to pay compensation and apologize to Finsbury Park Mosque.<ref>{{cite news|title=Van attack shatters calm at mosque with a troubled history|url=https://www.ft.com/content/d31780c4-550a-11e7-9fed-c19e2700005f|accessdate=21 June 2017|publisher=Financial Times|date=20 June 2017}}</ref>
In 2017, Quilliam founder Maajid Nawaz was found to have been listed as a terrorist in World-Check following an investigation by Vice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/vice-news-reveals-the-terrorism-blacklist-secretly-wielding-power-over-the-lives-of-millions/|title = VICE News Reveals the Terrorism Blacklist Secretly Wielding Power over the Lives of Millions|website=news.vice.com| date=4 February 2016 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.quilliaminternational.com/press-release-maajid-nawaz-wins-legal-battle-against-thomson-reuters-world-check/ |title=Press Release – Maajid Nawaz Wins Legal Battle Against Thomson Reuters World Check – Quilliam |website=www.quilliaminternational.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120095823/https://www.quilliaminternational.com/press-release-maajid-nawaz-wins-legal-battle-against-thomson-reuters-world-check/ |archive-date=2017-11-20}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/exclusive-secret-blacklist-marking-innocents-as-terrorists-continues-to-grow/|title=Exclusive: Secret Blacklist Grows Even After Journalists Placed on 'Terror' List Are Paid Off|website=Vice.com|date=18 October 2017 }}</ref> == See also == *Suisse secrets *World Leaders
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://www.refinitiv.com/en/products/world-check-kyc-screening World-Check] by Refinitiv
Category:Financial services companies established in 2000 Category:Open-source intelligence Category:British companies established in 2000 Category:Political databases Category:Companies based in London