In this paper, we first describe a system we have implemented that takes expressions of policies, expressed in a fragment of English called SBVR SE (Semantics of Business Vocabulary and Rules Structured English), an OMG standard, and automatically translates them into an executable semantic web formalism (OWL 2 and semantic web rules). Specifically, we describe how these policies can be used to automatically enforce compliance with policies and to reconcile multiple policies specified by independent parties. The scenarios implemented concern information sharing via XMPP (“instant messaging”). We then outline how situations can be characterized as policy-compliant or policy-violating. In some cases, situations are policy compliant or violating because of events and actions that they contain. We show that our formalism supports this analysis.