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] 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
• [New] Extrapolating that to the U.S. legal and CPA markets, Thomson Reuters estimates that roughly $143 billion in client revenue is under active reconsideration. LawSites
• [New] With legal online casinos expanding in the United States, there are more and more opportunities to play real money slots, table games and live dealer games. SportsLine
• [New] ESG regulation has increased by 155% over the past decade and is expected to continue growing, which may lead other countries to introduce their own legislations. GOV.UK
• [New] President Javier Milei's administration submitted legislation creating non-human corporations - a new legal category where artificial intelligence systems could run companies with human shareholders optional, not mandatory. Yahoo News
• [New] Legal, regulatory, and contractual problems threaten the efficacy of PPPs as a tool for achieving sustainable development, yet underexplored. SpringerLink
• [New] Belgian traders - and non-EU traders targeting Belgian consumers - should not delay their compliance efforts pending formal Belgian transposition, as enforcement at the EU level and in neighboring markets could expose them to material legal and financial risk. Crowell & Moring - EU Withdrawal Button Now Mandatory f
• [New] Brazil is developing regulations to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, expected by 2026. IEA
• [New] Worker protections: Strong labour unions and employment protection laws in countries like Germany, France, and Italy will slow but not prevent humanoid robot adoption in manufacturing. Robozaps
• [New] The recently launched European Legal Gateway Office in India serves as a pilot initiative to facilitate mobility of Indian ICT professionals, students and researchers to the EU and addressing the EU Digital Decade target of 20 million ICT specialists by 2030. EEAS
• [New] The EU End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation revision and OEM net-zero 2040-2050 commitments are creating supply chain transformation requirements across the wiring harness ecosystem. IMARC Group
• [New] Europe and Northern America are expected to remain broadly stable, reflecting stronger regulation and shifts away from routine antimicrobial use. UNifeed
• [New] The European Commission plans to rewrite the EU's flagship water protection law to speed up the development of critical minerals mines, despite many being located in drying and water-stressed regions, analysis has found. The Guardian
• [New] The International Protection Act 2026 is law that will significantly change Ireland's asylum process. Irish Refugee Council
• [New] While there are few laws on the books governing frontier AI development, that does not mean companies will not end up in trouble with Trump's White House when they cross unspoken lines. / USA Wired
• [New] Japan, India, South Korea, and Australia lead with active cyber defence laws and compulsory threat intelligence reporting for critical infrastructure. Research Nester
• [New] As Shopify continues to expand internationally, supporting common regional legal requirements like withdrawal management could add significant value for merchants operating in regulated markets. Shopify Community
• [New] Europe, like much of the world, is living through a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty in which sanctions risk, legal divergence, and cyber disruption have moved from abstract concerns to board-level variables. theregister

Last updated: 30 June 2026