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] Bank account governance is often fragmented across Treasury, Accounting, Legal, and HR, creating unclear ownership, inconsistent controls, and increased exposure to fraud, audit findings, and operational disruption. Annual Conference
• [New] The PRC's National Unity and Progress Promotion law could make a number of groups vulnerable to detention or sanctions, including overseas PRC ethnic minorities, overseas Chinese and dissidents, foreign lawmakers, journalists and researchers, Taiwanese officials and citizens. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The PRC's new law on ethnic unity intimidates individuals whose activities, careers, and identities threaten the PRC's conception of ethnic unity. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The Bank of England has signalled the need for more sophisticated regulation to manage the financial stability risks posed by increasingly autonomous agentic AI systems. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] The UK is conducting its own review of the Payment Services Regulations, with the FCA expected to consult on updated safeguarding rules as part of the broader consolidation of the UK payments framework following Brexit divergence. The Fintech Times
• [New] President Donald Trump's abrupt shift toward an aggressive and unpredictable oversight regime for artificial intelligence has some in the industry yearning for some Biden-style regulation. Mimir's Well
• [New] The UK government has announced it will operationalise regulations that will tackle illegal deforestation, by prohibiting the use of illegal commodities and establishing commodity-based due diligence reporting frameworks, Responsible Investor reports. FTI Strategic Communications
• [New] A blockchain project considering a U.S. launch, a derivatives exchange debating the merits of listing tokenized deposits, or a venture fund trying to increase exposure to altcoins will all be affected by regulation changes. Bitcoin Foundation
• [New] While some argued that Mexico's legal framework needs to be updated to address the challenges posed by digital platforms and artificial intelligence, others expressed concern that poorly drafted legislation could become a tool to limit criticism or restrict freedom of expression. UPI
• [New] Manufacturers of certain electronic devices will be required to make repair manuals, replacement parts, and tools available to consumers and independent repair shops under Connecticut's new right-to-repair law. NBC Connecticut
• [New] For the first time, site-blocking (that is, requiring ISPs to block pirate offshore websites, after legal review) will have a firm foundation in New Zealand law. Hugh Stephens Blog
• [New] New laws targeting price gouging will be enforced by the ACCC, prohibiting any supermarket with revenue exceeding $30bn from charging a price for a grocery product that is ruled excessive compared to the cost of supply, plus a reasonable margin. The Guardian
• [New] Arizona became the first state to convene a dedicated House committee on AI and innovation, and advanced a measure directing state agencies to find opportunities to deploy AI and to remove regulations that stand in the way of adoption. Medium
• [New] Washington enacted HB 2225, requiring companion chatbots to identify themselves as non-human and to flag and respond to users who express thoughts of self-harm, joining California and Oregon as states with chatbot laws aimed at protecting minors. Medium
• [New] Illinois passed SB 315, becoming the third state to enact frontier AI safety legislation aimed at catastrophic risks from the most advanced models. Medium
• [New] Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is warning Congress that it is running out of time on blockchain regulation and that the U.S. no longer has the luxury of time to act. News, Events, Advertising Options
• [New] The EU's AI Act and similar legislation worldwide will shape how quickly and in what ways robots are deployed. NyvoraAI
• [New] Chiefly the EU AI Act, which is binding and risk-tiered with major provisions applying in 2026; an evolving US federal posture centered on preempting state laws; and a patchwork of active US state AI laws. Collibra
• [New] In 2026 the global picture splits into three postures: the EU's binding, risk-tiered law; a US federal approach favoring light-touch rules and preemption of state law; and active US state legislation filling the federal gap. Collibra
• [New] Under Dutch law, creators are not only protected by copyright but also have moral rights to object to any distortion of their work that could harm their reputation. The Guardian

Last updated: 07 July 2026