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] AI is unlike technologies from previous eras, and that the diffuse nature of data means that state regulations risk violating federalism and speech provisions in the U.S. ballotpedia
• [New] A patchwork of state laws will make it harder for the U.S. to compete with China and other countries. ballotpedia
• [New] New California regulations requiring proof of content authenticity are an important step toward restoring trust but will not be sufficient. UC Berkeley School of Information
• [New] Labour laws, origin rules, and legal barriers will be the top issues to resolve from the current USMCA. Mexico Business
• [New] If EPA fails to quantify the human health benefits of air quality regulations (or the foregone benefits of deregulation), it will likely lead to suboptimal decisions that result in foregone health and economic benefits and net losses in welfare to the American people. Resources for the Future
• [New] Ending federal regulation could stall growth, lead to balkanised state-level regulations and create longer, less-predictable permitting and construction timelines. Automotive World
• [New] As the UK's Tobacco and Vapes Bill advances alongside the reset in 2026, Britain has a major opportunity to defend public health and protect regulation from the influence of Big Tobacco's commercial interests. London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
• [New] New rules may change this-Gartner predicts that by 2028, regulations requiring easy human access will actually boost demand to speak with humans by 30%. Your Site Name
• [New] Regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS expect businesses to protect user data properly. Elite IT Team
• [New] Autonomous driving laws and regulations are expected to continue to evolve in numerous jurisdictions in the United States and foreign countries and may create restrictions on autonomous driving features that we develop. SEC EDGAR
• [New] New laws in the U.S. and the EU, such as the GENIUS Act and MiCA, are expected to legitimize stablecoins. BiometricUpdate.com
• [New] If AI agents begin to replace high-cost labour functions in legal, medical, and coding sectors by late 2026, the current $700 billion price tag will look like a bargain. Valley City Times-Record
• [New] Stocks like Thomson Reuters and LegalZoom slid 15% to 20% as markets priced in the risk that AI agents could handle legal research, drafting, and triage. Economic Times
• [New] The percentage of lawyers calling AI a major threat to the unauthorized practice of law rose to 50% in 2026 from 36% in 2025. Thomson Reuters Institute
• [New] The commencement regulations will update the UK GDPR's data transfer framework, fully implementing ministerial powers to issue regulations approving data transfers based on a data protection test, as well as revising the criteria for appropriate safeguards for data transfers. Tech Policy Press
• [New] The 2026 regulatory environment in the EU is tightening, with new pharmaceutical legislation aimed at reducing the period of data exclusivity for new drugs, which could impact long-term profitability. / UK The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] The US faces a fragmented landscape of state regulations that threatens to slow investment and innovation. EV
• [New] AI risk and compliance in 2026 has matured from theoretical discussions to enforceable legal requirements with substantial penalties for non-compliance. Secure Privacy
• [New] For legal, compliance, and risk professionals, 2026 will be a year to move beyond reactive compliance. JD Supra
• [New] Organizations operating across North America will need to reconcile Canadian requirements with U.S. state laws and any future federal guidance, adding yet another jurisdiction to the AI compliance mosaic. JD Supra
• [New] Wyoming's leadership in both DUNA legislation and state-issued stablecoins creates unique integration opportunities. JD Supra
• [New] Legislation passed in 2012 under the Harper government would have gradually increased the age of eligibility for OAS and GIS to 67 by 2029. / Canada Fraser Institute

Last updated: 17 February 2026