Navigating the Legal Landscape: Key Industry Updates (July 2025)

UK Parliament Approves Assisted Dying Bill 

In June 2025, the UK House of Commons passed a bill to legalize assisted dying for terminally ill adults in England and Wales, allowing them to end their lives with medical help under strict safeguards; the bill now moves to the House of Lords.  

Source: AP News

UK Enacts Major Overhaul of Data Protection Laws 

The UK's Data (Use and Access) Act became law in June 2025, updating the UK GDPR to foster innovation by clarifying rules for research data, easing restrictions on automated decision-making, and creating frameworks for data sharing and digital ID.  

Source: ICO UK

EU AI Act Enters New Implementation Phase with New Obligations 

The EU's comprehensive AI Act entered a new phase in June 2025, with rules for General-Purpose AI models requiring transparency in training data and copyright compliance set to take effect in August, following an earlier ban on "unacceptable risk" systems.

Source: Indeed

Canada Implements Ban on Replacement Workers in Federal Sector 

A new Canadian law took effect on June 20, 2025, banning the use of replacement workers during strikes or lockouts in federally regulated industries, a major change to the country's labor laws aimed at protecting the right to strike.  

Source: Government of Canada

US Congress Considers 10-Year Moratorium on State AI Laws 

A federal bill advanced in June 2025 proposes a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulations, sparking bipartisan opposition from states that have been actively legislating on AI-related consumer protection and bias issues.

Source: PYMNTS

ECHR Declines to Hold Italy Accountable for Libyan Migrant Pull-Backs 

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in June 2025 that Italy was not legally responsible for the "pull-back" of migrants to Libya by the Libyan Coastguard, finding that Italy's support did not amount to exercising jurisdiction over the individuals at sea.  

Source: ECHR

UN Report Reveals Record-Breaking Violations Against Children in Conflict 

A June 2025 UN report found that 2024 saw a record 41,370 grave violations against children in conflict zones, a 25% increase from 2023, with the highest numbers of abuses occurring in Israel/Palestine, the DRC, and Somalia. 

Source: HRW

Israel and Iran Engage in Direct Military Strikes, Escalating Regional Conflict

In mid-June 2025, Israel and Iran engaged in direct military exchanges, with Israeli and US airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites and Iran retaliating with missile attacks on Israel, causing hundreds of casualties and sparking fears of a wider regional war.

Source: AP News

Vera C. Rubin Observatory to Reveal First Images of Unseen Cosmos 

On June 23, 2025, the new Vera C. Rubin Observatory will release its first images, beginning a 10-year survey to map the southern sky with the world's largest digital camera and probe cosmic mysteries like dark matter.

Source: MPG