2025 Will Be a Brave New Tokenized World
Tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is revolutionizing the way we perceive and manage assets. “Tokenized RWAs,” or more simply the digital representation of physical or intangible assets using a token recorded on a blockchain, allows for the efficient recording, trading, transferring, and managing of tangible assets in a digital format.
NHTSA Proposes Sweeping Voluntary Program for Vehicles With Automated Driving Systems
On December 19, 2024, the Chief Counsel of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA or the Agency) signed a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in which the Agency proposed a sweeping voluntary program relating to the evaluation and oversight of motor vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS). NHTSA defines ADS-equipped vehicles, which can also be called autonomous vehicles (AVs), as vehicles designed to fully perform the driving task without any expectation of an attentive human driver.
Looking Ahead to 2025 in EU Cybersecurity Developments
As 2024 draws to a close, we look ahead to notable upcoming cyber developments in the new year. From the adoption of new cyber laws to the initiation of infringement proceedings by the European Commission against a number of EU Member States for alleged failures to adequately implement the EU Network and Information Systems Security 2 Directive, the EU continues to emphasize cybersecurity in a rapidly evolving legal and technological environment. There are no signs of this momentum slowing down in 2025.
EU AI Act: Are You Prepared for the “AI Literacy” Principle?
The EU AI Act is the world’s first horizontal and standalone law governing the commercialization and use of AI, and a landmark piece of legislation for the EU. Among the various provisions of the EU AI Act, the “AI literacy” principle is an often overlooked but key obligation which requires organizations to ensure that staff who are involved in the operation and use of AI have the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to adequately assess AI-related risks and opportunities (e.g., through training and hiring staff with the appropriate background and skillset). This obligation – which applies from February 2, 2025 – is one of the few obligations under the EU AI Act that applies to all AI systems i.e., irrespective of the level of risk that the AI system presents. Indeed, by introducing AI literacy as one of the first provisions of the AI Act (Article 4), the EU legislators appear to underscore the significance of this requirement.
DORA – ESAs Publish Draft Technical Standards on ICT Subcontracting
On 26 July 2024, the European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA, collectively, the “ESAs”) published their joint final report on the draft Regulatory Technical Standards (“RTS”) specifying the elements that a financial entity should determine and assess when subcontracting ICT services supporting critical or important functions under Article 30(5) of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (“DORA”). The RTS are intended to assist with the enhancement of the digital operational resilience of the financial services sector by improving in-scope entities’ ICT risk management, specifically with respect to the issue of ICT subcontracting.
EU Governments Sign-off Proposed Reforms to GDPR Procedural Rules and Council Reaches Common Member States’ Position
On 24 May 2024, the Council of the European Union (the “Council”) released new details of a proposed reform of the General Data Protection Regulation’s (“GDPR”) procedural rules, which representatives of EU national governments approved on 29 May 2024. On 13 June 2024, the Council issued a press release detailing its agreed common Member States’ position that maintains the general thrust of the original proposed reforms, but which seeks to: (i) introduce clearer timelines; (ii) improve efficiency of cooperation; and (iii) provide an early resolution mechanism.
One Step Closer: AI Act Approved by Council of the EU
On 21 May 2024, the Council of the European Union approved the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (the “AI Act”). This is the final stage in the legislative process and comes after the EU Parliament voted to adopt the legislation on 13 March 2024. This final vote clears the path for the formal signing of the legislation and its publication in the Official Journal of the EU in the coming weeks. The AI Act will then enter into force 20 days after such publication with staggered transition periods of 6 to 36 months.
U.S. SEC Regulation S-P: Privacy of Consumer Financial Information and Safeguarding Customer Information Amendments Adopted
On May 16, 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to its Regulation S-P. These final amendments impose significant cybersecurity requirements for several SEC-registered entities and transfer agents registered with another appropriate regulatory agency, including with respect to these entities’ policies and procedures, incident response and notification procedures, and cybersecurity risk management.
ICO Publishes Its Strategic Approach to Regulating AI
On 30 April 2024, the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published its strategic approach to regulating artificial intelligence (“AI”) (the “Strategy”), following the UK government’s request that key regulators set out their approach to AI regulation and compliance with the UK government’s previous AI White Paper (see our previous blog post here). In its Strategy, the ICO sets out: (i) the opportunities and risks of AI; (ii) the role of data protection law; (iii) its work on AI; (iv) upcoming developments; and (v) its collaboration with other regulators. The publication of the ICO’s Strategy follows the recent publication of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (“FCA”) approach to regulating AI.
EU Formally Adopts Cyber Law for Connected Products
On 12 March 2024, the European Parliament approved the EU Cyber Resilience Act (“CRA”) with a large majority of 517-12 votes in favor of the legislation (with 78 abstentions). The CRA aims to ensure that “products with digital elements” (“PDE”) i.e., connected products such as smart devices, and remote data processing solutions, are resilient against cyber threats and provide key information in relation to their security properties.
