2025 Global Regulatory Changes to Watch: ESG, AI, Cybersecurity & More

Global regulations are evolving—and before our very eyes. But it’s not just the volume of regulatory changes that matters. It’s the new direction changes may be headed and the need to keep up.

Across global markets, a greater shift is taking hold. Compliance is now operating like a mirror, becoming a clear reflection of corporate values, ethics, and long-term resilience. In 2025, a new wave of regulations is set to reshape how organizations define responsibility. This is true both internally and across their supply chains, digital infrastructure, and ESG strategies.

What’s happening now around the world with global regulatory changes? In the EU, expanded sustainability reporting and AI governance frameworks are pushing companies toward greater transparency and accountability. In the U.S., new rules around ownership disclosure and foreign investment reflect deeper concerns around security and financial crime, as are ongoing initiatives around deregulation. The UK, in the meantime, is tightening its focus on consumer protection, digital innovation, and environmental accountability. And globally, we’re seeing emerging frameworks for digital assets, cybersecurity, and environmental claims that signal a broader push for integrity and trust.

This isn’t just about staying compliant with global regulations. It’s about earning and keeping stakeholder trust when expectations—especially from investors, regulators, and consumers—are quickly rising. These rules aren’t isolated policies, however. They’re actually part of a much larger story for organizations all around the world. One that’s trifold: about risk, ethics, and leadership alike.

What should businesses be paying attention to next regarding global regulations? And which regulatory trends are set to define the next chapter of ethics, governance, risk, and compliance? To make sense of what’s next, here are 20 key global regulations to watch in 2025 and beyond—each with the potential to reshape how companies operate, communicate, and lead.