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] UN Women has emphasized that women globally hold only 64% of the legal rights men do, and that at the current pace, it could take two hundred eighty-six years to close legal protection gaps. The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News |
• [New] As companies adopt AI-enabled technologies and increasingly complex collaboration tools, eDiscovery risk in 2026 will turn less on volume alone and more on defensible preservation, information governance, and early coordination between legal and information technology teams. JD Supra
• [New] Regulatory Awareness and Engagement Advisers are expected to remain informed about evolving AI regulation, including obligations arising under the EU AI Act. CFE Tax Advisers Europe
• [New] The US administration instructed diplomats to push back against foreign data sovereignty and localization laws that could restrict cross-border data flows and Cloud services. / USA MarketingProfs
• [New] According to PMMI's 2026 report, Building an AI Advantage in Packaging Equipment, some of the biggest benefits of AI come from using it to share knowledge, predict maintenance needs, meet regulations, and make data easier to understand. Gainesville CEO
• [New] MOT will tighten regulations in 2026 on the online sale and advertising of AMDs. ST
• [New] The U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to implement new regulations governing autonomous vehicle services in the spring of 2026, which could impact Tesla's plans for the Cybercab and its robotaxi program. National Today
• [New] In the coming months, the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on a case that could weaken or overturn key parts of the Voting Rights Act - a Civil Rights-era law that protects the power of racial minorities to elect candidates of their choice. The Marshall Project
• [New] The new majority on the National Labor Relations Board will bring a more balanced approach to labour law and end regulatory overreach that threatens workers and job creators alike. / USA ABC National
• [New] Watch for new U.S. and international regulations that could either stifle innovation or create new compliance costs. Ainvest
• [New] Legal analysts are debating whether the Defense Production Act, a Korean War-era statute, could compel a private company to hand over its AI. usfunds
• [New] An AI system that passes every test in the U.S. might face crippling fines in the EU or India due to strict local laws governing where data is stored and processed. InfosecTrain
• [New] The European Central Bank just confirmed digital euro legislation is coming in 2026 with a pilot in late 2027 and first issuance targeting 2029. TechBullion
• [New] Employers operating in Europe will need to navigate a complex overlay of AI regulation, data protection requirements, and national employment laws. dotmagazine - joining the dots in the Internet industry
• [New] State-level initiatives in the United States, such as California's AI transparency law and Texas's Responsible AI Governance Act, reflect a growing recognition of the need for tailored AI regulations that address specific risks while fostering innovation. JD Supra
• [New] Proposed DMV regulations expected to be finalized later in 2026 would require companies to log at least 50,000 autonomous miles on public roads with a safety driver before applying to test without one. CBT News | #1 Source for Automotive News & Dealership I
• [New] The proposed directive unofficially dubbed Insolvency III (due to be signed into law early in 2026) will introduce a pre-pack sales procedure, a mechanism currently absent from many European insolvency systems that could streamline the sale of viable business assets. Passle
• [New] The European Union's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation mandates that all packaging be recyclable (not necessarily reusable) by 2030 and sets binding targets for recycled content, including 55% for plastic packaging by 2030. Market Data Forecast
• [New] A loophole in UK law currently prevents British courts from prosecuting serious international crimes committed abroad unless the accused is a UK citizen or resident, allowing alleged perpetrators to enter the UK without fear of prosecution. Judicature | The Scholarly Journal About the Judiciary

Last updated: 10 March 2026