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] By 2026, best practices for contact center security focus on strict compliance with global standards such as PCI DSS and HIPAA, complemented by robust controls: full encryption, authentication, advanced firewalls, real-time AI monitoring, and no local storage policies. Call Center Services International
• [New] Global collaboration will be essential, with open standards, shared cyber security protocols and cross-border innovation partnerships to tackle challenges like health inequity and climate change. UKAuthority
• [New] Plain-English meaning: Singapore is tying stablecoin rules to the wider project of tokenized finance, where the settlement asset must be redeemable and regulated if institutions are going to use it. CryptoRank
• [New] By creating standards that recognize automated systems, NHTSA hopes to encourage broader deployment of autonomous vehicles, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles like robotaxis and automated delivery trucks. Pieces Online
• [New] As internet restrictions tighten globally - whether through authoritarian regimes blocking apps during unrest or democracies enforcing new content rules - reliable, censorship-resistant VPNs will become increasingly vital. TechRadar
• [New] The next major shift we will see in 2026 will be stronger testing, validation and reliability standards. Automation.com
• [New] With significant statutory reforms, sweeping new operational rules, a statewide deletion-request system and a growing, self-sustaining enforcement budget, 2026 is poised to bring heightened regulatory expectations for businesses operating within or affecting California. Squire Patton Boggs
• [New] Europe's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation will be fully activated in 2025, bringing EU-wide licensing, capital, and conduct rules for crypto-asset service providers and significant stablecoins. CryptoSlate
• [New] Interoperability and regulatory clarity shape competitive dynamics: The drive toward seamless digital asset infrastructure and the evolution of global regulatory standards will be crucial in establishing leadership, building investor trust, and ensuring scalability across financial products. The Trading Dojo - The Way of the Market Warrior
• [New] Quantum computing could render today's encryption standards RSA and ECC obsolete. ET Edge Insights - The New Paradigm of Business Intelli
• [New] Most consumers will use a lawyer to navigate the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) car finance redress scheme - and almost all will go to court if it means receiving more compensation. Legal Futures
• [New] EV batteries face new rules such as China's GB38031 - 2026, mandating no fire or explosion for two hours after thermal runaway and no visible smoke entering the passenger compartment within five minutes. AZOM
• [New] AI browser agents could be persistently exposed to prompt injection, a class of attacks where malicious instructions embedded in web content manipulate an AI system into leaking data, taking unintended actions, or bypassing safety rules. Tech Startups - Tech News, Tech Trends & Startup Fundin
• [New] India's Gaganyaan orbital spacecraft is likely to conduct an uncrewed test mission in 2026. Scientific American
• The number of data points required under the European Sustainability Reporting Standards will be reduced and the revised ESRS should be interoperable with global sustainability reporting standards to the greatest extent possible. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Professional Corporati
• Embracing AI's potential while investing in skills, migration policies, and participation among older workers will help Ireland manage inflation risks and foster sustainable living standards growth. Central Bank of Ireland - English
• As regulatory frameworks and industry standards continue to evolve, organizations should anticipate further updates to compliance obligations and best practices in 2026 and beyond. JD Supra
• Automated AI irrigation systems ensure only the right amount of water is applied, conserving precious resources and supporting compliance with global sustainability standards - especially critical in regions facing severe droughts and water shortages by 2026. Farmonaut
• The U.S. DOT's leadership in integrating AAM technologies will help to set the standards for how AAM aircraft are regulated, certified, and integrated into global airspace systems. Travel And Tour World
• One analyst observes that within five years, ICAO eVTOL standards will closely mirror CAAC requirements, because China will have the most operational data, the most certified aircraft, and the most active participation in standards bodies. Low Altitude Economy
• Defining information-exchange standards and security requirements so that FAA systems, third-party providers and operators can share trajectory, surveillance and flight plan data securely and interoperably. Inside Unmanned Systems
• Singapore has taken a more cautious approach, deferring the implementation of its bank crypto-asset capital rules to 2027. Fintech Singapore
• China will make selective, strategic use of American chips without surrendering to US standards, rules, or long-term dependence. The National Interest

Last updated: 01 January 2026