AI policy updates
January 2026: 8 AI policy changes recorded across 8 jurisdictions, of which 4 instruments entered into force, 5 concerned binding law, 3 were rated high impact. Each is dated, links to its official source, and shows what it means in practice.
Last updated · most recent change 25 Jan 2026
Milestone recorded for National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026-2030 (Bangladesh): Draft V1.1 released for public consultation. Recorded from the official source listed.
IMDA launched a voluntary governance framework for AI agents at the World Economic Forum, covering upfront risk bounding, human accountability, technical controls across the agent lifecycle and end-user responsibility, and said it was developing testing guidelines for agentic applications. Recorded from search extracts of IMDA and MDDI pages.
Practical impact: Organisations deploying AI agents can use it as a reference for governance and controls.
Milestone recorded for Framework Act on the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Establishment of a Foundation for Trust (South Korea): Act enters into force. Recorded from the official source listed.
The Working for Workers Four Act provisions took effect requiring employers with 25 or more employees to state in public job postings whether AI is used to screen, assess or select applicants.
Practical impact: Add an AI-use statement to every public job posting for Ontario roles.
Public Act 103-0804 became effective: discriminatory AI use in employment decisions is a civil-rights violation and employers must notify employees of AI use.
Practical impact: Employers must have notices and bias testing in place for AI tools affecting Illinois workers.
The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act became effective, with Attorney General enforcement after a 60-day cure period.
Practical impact: Prohibited-intent screening, government disclosure and sandbox applications are now live requirements in Texas.
Milestone recorded for National AI Strategy (Egypt): NCAI mandate expanded to AI, Quantum Computing and Emerging Technologies (January 2026). Recorded from the official source listed.
Most provisions of the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act took effect, including the duty to publish a frontier AI framework and report critical safety incidents.
Practical impact: Large frontier developers should now have a published framework and incident-reporting process.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.
