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 Professional Footballers' Association has warned it would unlawfully restrict trade, and leading legal opinions argue rigid caps risk breaching UK or EU employment and competition law and do not fit a football pyramid system. The Conversation
• [New] The Department of Justice will continue engaging tech companies to eliminate platforms where radicals can incite imminent violence against federal law enforcement. The Register
• [New] If global methane emissions increase 5% by 2030, as currently projected under existing environmental regulations rather than non-binding pledges, the additional pollution would drive climate damage with significant negative impacts. Inside Climate News
• [New] There is a reciprocal treatment clause that could allow stablecoins from jurisdictions with comparable regulations to operate in the United States without full domestic licensing. investing.com
• [New] As stablecoin regulations diverge across jurisdictions, the IMF warns of fragmentation and regulatory arbitrage. The Policy Edge
• [New] 2025 crypto faces heightened regulatory risk as U.S. agencies target mixer operators like Samourai Wallet and Tornado Cash, setting legal precedents for AML enforcement. Ainvest
• [New] California's new climate disclosure laws, known as S.B. 253 and S.B. 261, will require corporations with $1 billion in revenue to disclose their supply-chain emissions starting in 2026. Friends Committee On National Legislation
• [New] Recognizing the importance of regulating the spreading influence of AI in military operations, the UN secretary general aims to achieve a legally binding treaty by 2026 that bans AI weapons systems that operate without human control or oversight and cannot comply with international humanitarian law. Minnesota Journal of International Law
• [New] In 2026, businesses must ensure that AI systems are transparent, auditable, and compliant with emerging regulations such as the EU AI Act and NIST AI Risk Management Framework. The AI Journal
• [New] In the UK, new legislation regulating AI (the UK AI Bill), is unlikely to be published until the second half of 2026. The AI Journal
• [New] The Trump administration circulated a six-page draft executive order titled Eliminating State Law Obstruction of National AI Policy that characterizes the over 1,000 state AI laws, particularly in California and Colorado, as fear-based regulatory capture threatening American AI dominance. The CommLaw Group
• [New] Tech billionaires are gearing up to fight AI regulation by amassing multi-million dollar war chests ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections. MIT Technology Review
• [New] The legal profession is bracing for a 50% shock - a transformation where half of all traditional legal workflows will be automated or reengineered by AI by the end of this decade. Medium
• [New] By 2030, AI-native law firms will outnumber traditional practices. Medium
• [New] Major technology firms in the U.S. are investing significantly in governance tools, focusing on transparency, reducing bias, and responsible AI deployment to mitigate reputational and legal risks. Precedence Research
• [New] As detailed in the proposals from the European Commission, highlighted by Euractiv, regulations will demand that AI systems operate with clear audit trails and accountability measures, ensuring both transparency and security in critical infrastructure-related operations. OpenTools
• [New] AI-specific regulations, including rules on explainability, data provenance, and model risk, will emerge globally but may be fragmented. Rapid7
• [New] The emergence of divergent regulations on data privacy, AI ethics, and cross-border data flows could create significant hurdles for international trade, making efforts towards international standards from organizations like the OECD and UNESCO particularly crucial. FinancialContent
• [New] The U.S. is likely to pass federal legislation defining crypto asset classes, while the EU's MiCA will set a benchmark for others. Futurist Speaker on AI Leadership, Future of Work, Futu

Last updated: 02 December 2025