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 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
• [New] In Europe, legal and tax compliance is one of the most critical areas of risk for companies. FinExtra
• [New] High-Margin Data Providers: Stocks like Thomson Reuters and LegalZoom fell 15% to 20% as investors priced in the risk that autonomous AI can handle legal triage, research, and drafting, reducing the willingness to pay premium prices for search-oriented legal databases. Trefis
• [New] Most attorneys now believe that artificial intelligence will be driving changes in the ways that they deliver legal services (admittedly, in 2026, an easy prediction to make). JD Supra
• [New] Artificial intelligence will radically reshape the practice of law in 2026. JD Supra
• [New] In a joint intervention, the Financial Conduct Authority and the Solicitors Regulation Authority have warned claims management companies and law firms to address widespread failures around onboarding controls, multiple representation and termination fees. Insurance Business
• [New] Fragmented global regulation is compounding the risk for directors. Insurance Business
• [New] Some want to move quickly, while others warn that overly broad regulation will slow deployment, disadvantage domestic firms, and regulate technologies Canada does not control. Michael Geist
• [New] The UK government should respect its domestic and international obligations to uphold human rights and repeal or amend legislation that poses a direct threat to the rights of people both at home and abroad. Human Rights Watch
• [New] In a recent survey by the Canadian Medical Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the most prominent concern about the adoption of AI scribes reported by 49% of respondents is medico-legal and privacy risk. / Canada OntarioMD Blog
• [New] Beyond enacted laws, several federal bills signal how US policymakers are approaching deepfake risks across privacy, elections, fraud, and consumer protection. Reality Defender - Enterprise-Grade Deepfake Detection
• [New] Europe is taking a structured approach to AI regulation, pairing enforceable obligations with experimentation to address risk while supporting innovation. Reality Defender - Enterprise-Grade Deepfake Detection
• [New] Unlike past antitrust cases centered on app store fees, the new frontier of regulation will likely focus on Data Sovereignty - how Apple uses private user data to train personalized AI models that cannot be easily exported to rival platforms. FinancialContent
• [New] Whilst comprehensive reform of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act is still unobtainable, the past two years have witnessed increased legislative, executive, and law enforcement activity addressing increasing cybercrime risks in the United States. Record Of Law
• [New] The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act will preempt Prop 65 warnings and common law failure-to-warn claims. JD Supra
• [New] California continues to broaden its battery and electronic waste regulatory framework through two complementary but mutually exclusive laws - AB 2440 and SB 1215. JD Supra
• [New] Encompassing both expansion and simplification trends, 2026 is expected to see progress on legislation supporting a circular economy in the EU, including the refinement of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes. Passle
• [New] The UK government sought feedback in 2025 on how climate transition planning obligations should apply to corporates and regulated financial institutions, and we expect formal regulation to be introduced in 2026. Passle

Last updated: 10 February 2026