What is the main goal of "anti-money laundering" (AML) regulations?

The main goal of "anti-money laundering" (AML) regulations is to monitor and report suspicious activities to prevent money laundering. These regulations are designed to detect and deter illicit activities by requiring financial institutions to conduct thorough due diligence on their customers and transactions. The aim is to ensure that any patterns or behaviors indicative of money laundering are identified and reported to the appropriate authorities.

This proactive approach helps keep the financial system secure from being exploited for illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and terrorism financing. By focusing on monitoring and reporting, AML regulations create a framework where suspicious transactions can be flagged for investigation, effectively contributing to the integrity of the financial sector.

The other options focus on consumer costs, financial literacy, and risk information, which, while important in their own right, do not directly relate to the primary objective of AML regulations.