Frequently asked questions

OpenSanctions is a comprehensive database that consolidates sanctions lists, government watchlists, lists of politically exposed persons (PEPs), entities involved in financial crime, and parties excluded from government contracts. It gathers data that is published in various formats across multiple government websites and converts it into a well-defined, expressive format for easy use and integration into third-party systems.

Who is it for?

• Businesses: Companies in fintech, regtech, compliance sectors, and small businesses like law firms needing to perform sanctions screening, AML checks, or investigative research.
• Financial Institutions: Banks and payment service providers requiring real-time transaction screening.
• Journalists and Civil Society: For due diligence tasks, such as investigating persons of interest in leaks or open datasets.
• Developers and Researchers: Anyone interested in working with our datasets, contributing code, or adding new information.