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] The shift in U.S. political leadership brought a fundamental restructuring of cryptocurrency regulation, while global developments in blockchain technology and digital currencies created both opportunities and challenges for legal practitioners. GLI
• [New] Enforcement of data privacy regulations has intensified, leading 70% of enterprises to prefer onshore providers to mitigate legal risks associated with cross-border data transfers. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Nearly half of global leaders expect new legal frameworks to emerge specifically to govern AI-to-AI interactions within the decade, and two-thirds say that shift will be transformational for their business. Legal Futures
• [New] The legal architecture for future escalation is already being constructed domestically inside Russia, including veiled threats accusing Baltic states of facilitating Ukraine's attacks inside Russia. Global Defense Insight
• [New] Looking ahead, the direction of crypto regulation in the United States will likely depend on the interplay between administrative guidance and legislative action. KuCoin
• [New] By 2026, firms that have not embraced hybrid workflows, combining AI with LPO (Legal Process Outsourcing), will face significant operational challenges. Mundus LPO
• [New] In 2026, law firms will be able to significantly reduce overhead costs by automating tasks and outsourcing repetitive work to LPO providers. Mundus LPO
• [New] Allowing individual states to sidestep the FDA's regulations without any concrete proof that a medication is unsafe could significantly disrupt the biopharmaceutical industry, harm patients, and stifle innovation in drug development. Forbes
• [New] U.S. senators are poised to take up a long-anticipated piece of legislation next week that would create a regulatory structure for cryptocurrency, possibly breaking a legislative impasse that has set crypto firms against American banks. IndexBox Inc.
• [New] Beginning in 2027, the green ammonia will comply with EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin regulations and facilitate the growth of clean ammonia supply chains for fuel and energy applications. / India Transpire Insight
• [New] The Innovative Clean Transit regulation mandates that 100% of new bus purchases be zero emission by 2029, setting a precedent for other states. Market Data Forecast
• [New] In 2026, the European Commission will make greater strategic use of the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation and shape its application in practice through the FSR guidelines and the establishment of precedents. Luther Lawfirm
• [New] Germany's instruments to exercise control over digital platforms will remain in force after a discussion whether a EU-wide harmonization shall replace stricter national laws. Luther Lawfirm
• [New] Compliance-aware products will win in fintech, healthtech, AI, and crypto as regulation tightens in 2026. Startupik
• [New] Beyond the AI-cyber nexus, Mozambique passed dedicated cybersecurity and cybercrime legislation, Vietnam ratified the UN Hanoi Convention, Nigeria warned of escalating threats to critical infrastructure, and Japan publishing a national cybersecurity workforce framework. Clifford Chance
• [New] Any talks between the United States and China over AI regulations - designing some kind of arms control agreement governing the use of a technology that neither side fully understands or controls - will be fraught with suspicion, misunderstandings and risk. Los Angeles Times
• [New] Newly passed legislation in Utah (which goes into effect tomorrow) will extend enforcement of age restriction requirements on adult-focused websites to all individuals located within Utah, and aims to account for whether they use a VPN or proxy to mask their IP address. Yahoo News
• [New] Legal risks could force sites to either ban VPN IPs or mandate age verification for every visitor globally. Yahoo News
• [New] In 2026, shadow-tool risk includes unauthorized use of public AI interfaces for internal business material - restricted customer, financial, legal, and operational data may not be submitted to unapproved external AI tools or unmanaged productivity platforms. netguardia.com
• [New] In the US, all Federal agencies are subject to digital accessibility laws, and in less than a year, all State agencies will be as well. Forbes
• [New] Singapore has received a strong assessment from the Financial Action Task Force for its financial crime controls, even as the watchdog flagged areas to strengthen in foreign legal structures and some proliferation financing risks. Fintech Singapore
• [New] Singapore could further strengthen risk mitigation measures for foreign legal persons and foreign legal arrangements. Fintech Singapore

Last updated: 19 May 2026