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 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
• [New] U.S. publishers have successfully advanced claims against certain AI developers, suggesting that content-generation risk is now a mainstream legal exposure. Parsons Behle & Latimer PLC
• [New] While there have been some new federal regulations - such as FDA rules on medical and other devices and diagnosis software, as well as America's AI Action Plan - we can expect to see more state and healthcare laws take shape in the new year. Forbes
• [New] Using a patchwork of existing laws could lead to a whack-a-mole regulatory approach that may disadvantage business and discourage investment. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] The now-defunct targets, enshrined in law by the former Labour government, were 50% renewable energy by 2030, 70% by 2032, and 80% by 2035. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] The Trump administration's fiscal stimulus and regulations within the US Treasury system (such as SLR) will force banks into a massive influx of capital. Bitget
• [New] By prioritizing transparency and regulation of AI decisions and anticipating the challenges of legal fragmentation, organizations can future-proof their compliance and deployment strategies for 2026 and beyond. Forbes
• [New] France's 2025 regulations will reduce tax breaks, cap rentals at 90 days per year, and enforce mandatory property registration with penalties for non-compliance. EnsoConnect
• [New] Cyber & Digital Ecosystem Risk: Resilience, Regulation and Supply Chains in Europe Europe is now a primary target, and new frameworks like NIS2 and the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) are resetting the rules for digital security. GRC World Forums
• [New] The European regulatory outlook for 2026 will see a significant volume of directives and legislation come into force, imposing new obligations and restrictions across multiple industries. Default
• [New] New California Law Requires Worker Rights Notification Starting 2026 California has introduced a new compliance requirement that employers need to prepare for. be the change HR
• [New] Illinois Releases New Workplace Laws for 2026 - What Employers Need to Know Illinois has enacted several important labour and employment laws that will take effect in 2026, and now is a great time for employers and business owners to prepare. be the change HR
• [New] There is currently no comprehensive global governance framework for military [AI], leaving a troubling regulatory gap which threatens fundamental principles of international humanitarian law (IHL). Minnesota Journal of International Law
• [New] Key Takeaway: The potential rescheduling of marijuana by 2025 could transform the cannabis industry's regulatory landscape, impacting public health, law enforcement, and research opportunities. ARCannabisClinic

Last updated: 16 December 2025