The SEC has a YouTube Channel, but it rarely uses it. As you can see here, the SEC's channel is currently used only sporadically and typically (with some limited exceptions, e.g., "The SEC Internship Experience") as a repository for old videos of open Commission meetings.

Down Under, however, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission--Australia's primary securities regulator--appears to be experimenting with other uses for its YouTube channel. Last week, ASIC announced that after a three-month investigation, it had concluded that there was insufficient evidence of insider trading in a high-profile matter involving two directors of David Jones, an iconic Australian retail operation. The directors had purchased shares in the company the day after a rival presented it with a lucrative merger proposal. The decision not to bring a case sparked considerable criticism of ASIC, and led to calls for Australian law to be amended to make it easier for ASIC to bring insider trading cases. The Australian Senate also indicated that it will open an inquiry into why ASIC did not pursue the case.

Yesterday, ASIC Commissioner John Price used the ASIC YouTube channel as a microphone to get the agency's message out about the case and its decision not to pursue charges. In a 2-minute video, Price explained to the public that proving insider trading is "hard" and he suggested that the evidence ASIC had against the directors would not have stood up in court. Check out Price's video message to the public about the David Jones matter here:

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