Global Scans · Standards · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Improving standards are likely to be driven more by business and technological improvement than governments in the future. The latter will be under severe pressure to cut bureaucracy, speed policy making and improve their nation's productivity performance.

• [New] The EU's move toward common minimum standards will help reduce some divergence over time, but 2026 will still require careful sequencing across Member States and non-EU regimes. JD Supra
• [New] While 2026 is only a bridge year before the new EU Regulation applies from 2027, investors should plan both for the existing national regimes and the incoming EU-level minimum standards which may already influence the current EU coordination mechanism. JD Supra
• [New] More than 30 new standards relating to public data, data infrastructure, AI agents, high-quality datasets, full-scale urban digital transformation, important data catalogs for telecommunications, agriculture, aviation, aerospace and more are expected to be issued in 2026. IAPP.org
• [New] Cryptoasset businesses will need to be authorised by the FCA to do business in the UK and demonstrate that they meet the required standards. Taylor Wessing
• [New] Australia is playing a leading role in shaping international AI norms and standards, working with partners to advance global understanding of AI risks and safety. Mirage News
• [New] If states build fragmented, fear-driven AI rules, the U.S. risks stifling innovation, raising costs, and handing leadership to countries willing to experiment. Let People Prosper
• [New] The EU's AI Act will fully kick in (by mid-2026), imposing stricter rules on AI use in customer communications. Quertum
• [New] The DNA, working in tandem with the Cloud and AI Development Act expected in Q1 2026, introduces Buy European procurement rules and mandatory green ratings for data centers. The Pilot News
• [New] The FCA's consultation on responsible lending rules following DP25 / 2, expected in the first half of 2026, will mark the next major milestone. PwC
• [New] Standardized digital reporting, aided by initiatives like IFRS digital reporting standards, will reduce friction in global commerce. ICT
• [New] While Dutch law already contains general requirements on sound business operations and risk management, existing rules are deemed insufficient to fully capture ESG risks. NautaDutilh
• [New] While U.S. legislation is a major step, the global nature of capital markets means that inconsistent rules across jurisdictions could create friction and limit cross-border liquidity. Ainvest
• [New] Collaboration between public and private sectors is essential, as global standards emerge to combat cyber risks. WebProNews
• [New] Quantum computers pose a risk to the current encryption standards due to their ability to provide solutions to mathematical problems that surpass RSA and ECC. Security Boulevard
• [New] In 2026, search behaviour will shift as engines deliver direct, AI-generated answers. Grazitti Interactive
• [New] In the UK, new rules governing subscriptions are expected to come into force in autumn 2026. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• [New] The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may propose a new Negative Option Rule, and detailed rules governing subscription services will come into force in the UK. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• [New] In 2026, EU countries will enact rules mandating the inclusion of pay ranges in advertised positions, and in 2027, companies in the EU must report their mean and median gender pay gaps. financialpost
• [New] The latest school nutrition standards were proposed in 2023 but will not be fully implemented until 2027. KOLN
• [New] Cities that embrace open standards now will be miles ahead by 2035. Parking & Mobility
• [New] In 2026, the combination of physical AI blueprints - such as Nvidia's ecosystem - and open interoperability standards (like IEEE P2874) will start to reshape industrial R&D. Information Week

Last updated: 15 January 2026