What do information barriers within a financial services firm primarily aim to control?

Information barriers, also known as "Chinese walls," within a financial services firm primarily aim to control conflicts of interest. These barriers are designed to prevent sensitive information from being shared between different departments or divisions that may have differing interests or responsibilities. For example, compliance departments may need to ensure that analysts do not inadvertently share material nonpublic information with traders who could exploit that information for trading advantages. By maintaining information barriers, firms can better manage the risk of biased decision-making that could arise when one part of the firm has access to information that another part does not.

This is particularly crucial in firms that engage in various activities such as investment banking, asset management, and research, where the potential for conflicts between different business units can create ethical dilemmas and undermine client trust. Effective information barriers help uphold the integrity of the financial markets and protect the firm's reputation by mitigating the risks associated with these conflicts.