Costa Rica has expanded transparency regulations to include non-profit organizations and third-party resource managers, requiring them to disclose detailed financial flows and ultimate beneficiaries. This shift aims to prevent money laundering by ensuring that donations exceeding a baseline salary are fully traceable to the individual level, thereby closing loopholes in the previous legal framework for non-state entities. Entities listed as non-compliant face significant restrictions, including the inability to obtain legal certifications or register documents through the National Registry. Furthermore, notaries must flag these subjects in legal proceedings, creating a systemic barrier that discourages non-compliance. This administrative enforcement mechanism ensures that transparency obligations are not merely procedural but have tangible consequences for operating within the formal economy. This development is crucial for open data initiatives as it mandates the creation of structured, accessible datasets regarding beneficial ownership. By forcing a broader range of organizations to publish verified financial and ownership information, the regulation enhances public oversight and promotes accountability. It transforms opaque corporate structures into transparent data points, empowering civil society and researchers to monitor financial flows more effectively.

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Published on 2024-06-26