On 11 August, The Shift reported that the Malta Business Registry has erased the records of over 30,000 companies “struck off” from its online registry system. It expresses concern that doing so risks “wiping out any knowledge of those involved in dodgy deals and their connections”. This, it says, contrasts with the UK, where full searches relating to dissolved companies are available online and fully searchable for at least 6 years after dissolution. However, it is reported that Malta literally purged any evidence of old companies and their past activities from the online system.