Global Scans · Legal · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Substantive regulatory change is likely to happen in the next decade as a result of the recent U.S. Presidential election, Brexit and efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, increase trade and reduce bureaucracy while legislating for new forms of technological advancement such as robots, driverless cars and drones.

• [New] A patchwork of state laws could lead to burdensome compliance regimes and harm innovation necessary for global AI leadership. DLA Piper
• [New] Arresting and deporting dangerous criminals while creating a credible legal path to immigration could win favour with the American people. Reason.com
• [New] The potential of having to comply with 50 different legal AI frameworks (one for each U.S. state) could create significant issues. investing.com
• [New] Regulation and oversight: As we head into 2026, there's a global push for explainable AI and tougher data privacy laws to make sure that algorithmic decisions are transparent, fair, and free from discrimination. Fort Wayne Business Weekly
• [New] The FTC will issue a policy statement on how state laws requiring certain AI outputs may be preempted by federal unfair and deceptive practices rules. Kiteworks | Your Private Data Network
• [New] A draft AI Security Law is expected by late 2025, formalizing licensing and risk classification. / China Nemko Digital B.V.
• [New] The increasing complexity of AI will necessitate a thicket of new laws and regulations, with the European Union's AI Act potentially setting a global standard. FinancialContent
• [New] Global frameworks, such as the EU's pioneering AI Act, are providing a blueprint for other governments, with Connecticut also expected to implement AI legislation in 2025. FinancialContent
• [New] Tighter regulations focusing on AI safety and governance are predicted to be pivotal in 2025, with discussions shifting towards responsible and sustainable AI practices addressing transparency, bias, privacy, and the environmental impact of AI development. FinancialContent
• [New] Every privacy law, every age verification requirement, every attempt by states to regulate online platforms could get vaporized by precedent that Trump's own lawyers established. Techdirt
• [New] In 2025, smart contracts are predicted to see widespread adoption in legal agreements, supply chain management, and corporate operations. yellow.com
• [New] Clients expect solutions that can adapt quickly to evolving local regulations while maintaining a consistent global architecture. Innovate Tax
• [New] A critical piece of legislation that could define the future of digital assets in America has hit a significant roadblock. Bitget Exchange
• [New] The US has no specific federal law explicitly addressing agentic AI, though NIST will likely revise the AI Risk Management Framework (a voluntary set of guidelines) to include considerations for agentic AI. Passle
• [New] With the recent passing of the EU AI Act and uncertainty around US regulations under the incoming presidential administration, 32% of firms using GenAI expect regulatory ambiguity to impact their compliance objectives in 2025. Smarsh
• [New] A bipartisan group of state attorneys general has sent a letter to Meta, Google, OpenAI, and others warning that their chatbots may be violating state laws by encouraging illegal activity, practicing medicine without a license, or having inappropriate conversations with minors. / USA MarketingProfs
• [New] President Trump's new executive order to block state laws governing artificial intelligence could help the tech industry but hurt health systems looking to adopt AI safely, and leave patients without protection. STAT
• [New] If Trump's DOJ successfully argues that state AI laws violate the dormant commerce clause, they will have handed every future administration - and every tech company - a nuclear weapon against state internet regulation. Techdirt
• [New] Legal challenges could test whether federal government can condition nutrition programs on immigration enforcement cooperation, affecting both federalism (Sub-national Autonomy) and separation of powers. RealTime DemTrends
• [New] The Child Sexual Abuse Regulation proposal in the EU will continue to be the subject of fierce debate in 2025. Future of Privacy Forum
• [New] The AISI will provide independent advice to ensure AI companies are compliant with Australian law and uphold legal standards around fairness and transparency. Leon Furze

Last updated: 23 December 2025