The evolution of surveillance technology Artificial intelligence is expanding what surveillance technology can achieve, increasing the threat it poses to human rights. The swift implementation of effective regulation is essential.

Privacy campaigners have lost a High Court challenge aimed at limiting the Metropolitan Police's use of live facial recognition technology. Global Insight explores what AI and surveillance technology can achieve. Given the threat it poses to human rights, robust regulation is essential.

Future of law: UK’s SRA takes unprecedented approach in authorising AI-enabled law firms In February, the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of England and Wales authorised LawFairy, which delivers legal services entirely through AI, to practise as a law firm. The SRA’s decision follow...

In February, the SRA authorised LawFairy, which delivers legal services entirely through AI, to practise as a law firm. The SRA’s decision follows the authorisation of Garfield.Law and shows the regulatory body taking a unique approach globally to the emergence of AI-enabled firms.

IBA Global Insight – the clean energy transition With global fuel and energy prices soaring as a consequence of the war in the Middle East, the need to decarbonise is growing ever more urgent. We’ve selected some of the best of Global Insight's cont...

With global fuel and energy prices soaring as a consequence of the war in the Middle East, the need to decarbonise is growing ever more urgent. Below, we’ve selected some of the best of Global Insight's continuing coverage of these and related issues.
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Comment and analysis: President Trump and the 25th Amendment US President Donald Trump’s recent behaviour has reopened the question of his fitness for office.

House Democrats have proposed creating a commission that would work with VP JD Vance to determine if President Trump is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" under the 25th Amendment.

🔗Read more for a breakdown of the legal threshold for Section 4 and constitutional concerns:

Climate crisis: war in Middle East highlights urgency of fossil fuel phase-out War in the Middle East has caused a global fuel crisis and made the need to decarbonise even more urgent. Not long after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February – and Tehran responded w...

War in the Middle East has caused a global fuel crisis, making the need to decarbonise more urgent. After US-Israel strikes on Iran in February and Tehran’s response with strikes on targets in the Gulf, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for an accelerated transition to renewables.

Rule of law: slow progress on UK House of Lords reform threatens democracy Eighteen months after the UK’s assisted dying bill was introduced to Parliament, its progress has stalled in the House of Lords.

Eighteen months after the UK’s assisted dying bill was introduced to Parliament, its progress has stalled in the House of Lords. Peers have put forward over 1,200 amendments to the Bill – the highest number of any legislation in 20 years.

Inspirational legal women: a conversation with Pascale Lagesse An insightful discussion with Pascale Lagesse

New podcast: Pascale Lagesse joins the International Bar Association’s Inspirational Legal Women series.

From partnership setbacks to leadership success, she shares powerful insights on resilience and #gender equality in #law.

Read, listen and share: ibanet.org/inspirationa...

International trade: Iran’s response to US-Israeli strikes paralyses Strait of Hormuz When President Trump briefed Republican lawmakers at his Doral golf club on 9 March, he called the US-Israeli military campaign in Iran a 'little excursion' to 'get rid of some evil.' Weeks later, tha...

The US-Israel alliance started their strikes on Iran on 28 February. Four days later, Tehran began a de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The 21-mile-wide passage through which 20% of the world’s petroleum once flowed is now a desolate front line that threatens to upend the global economy.

The Crime of Aggression and Challenges to International Jurisdiction | King's College London Discussion on reforming the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and operationalizing the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine

17 April, 1500 BST: The Crime of Aggression and Challenges to the Exercise of International Jurisdiction.
Hosts: Kings College London
Reg: www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-c...
The IBA's Dr Mark Ellis to participate in examining efforts to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression against #Ukraine.

EU judiciary upholds LGBTQ+ rights amid democratic backsliding The status of LGBTQ+ rights in Europe is complex, with populist agendas and foreign influence driving anti-LGBTQ+ narratives and repressive laws. Clear examples have emerged, however, of governments acting to uphold and restore rights and EU institutions acting as an effective bulwark against cases of discrimination and oppression.

The status of LGBTQ+ rights in Europe is complex. Populist agendas and foreign influence are driving anti-LGBTQ+ narratives and repressive laws; however, governments are acting to restore rights, with EU institutions serving as an effective bulwark against discrimination and oppression.

Australia enforces social media ban for under-16s as other jurisdictions consider similar legislation In December, Australia became the first country to ban people under the age of 16 from using designated social media platforms. The ban is aimed at protecting youngsters from harmful content and other risks, says the Australian government – and several other jurisdictions are now considering the adoption of similar rules.

Greece has announced plans to ban access to social media for under-15s, becoming the latest European country to restrict children's exposure to online platforms. Following Australia becoming the first country to ban people under the age of 16 from using designated social media platforms. Read more:

IBA Global Insight - tech harms In March, a US jury ruled that Meta and Google had intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the mental health of a woman who used them as a child. Though both companies have sa...

A US jury ruled Meta and Google intentionally built addictive platforms that harmed the mental health of a woman who used them as a child. This landmark case opens the door for tech accountability. As more countries consider legislative bans, see Global Insight’s ongoing coverage:

Safeguarding the oceans The world’s oceans are facing significant threats, from chemical spillages to plastic pollution and loss of biodiversity. Global Insight reports on the steps being taken to protect them.

China is positioning itself to host a new global body for ocean protection, seeking to fill the leadership vacuum left as the US retreats from multilateral environmental agreements.

The world’s oceans are facing significant threats, Global Insight reports on the steps being taken to protect them.

Indian Supreme Court tackles gender inequality with landmark ruling India’s Supreme Court has ruled that access to menstrual hygiene facilities is a constitutional right and that the country’s schools must provide these to students.

India’s Supreme Court has ruled that access to menstrual hygiene facilities is a constitutional right and that the country’s schools must provide these to students. The judgment will help to address deep-rooted gender inequalities in Indian society and remove barriers to education for girls.

🌍The April/May edition of Global Insight is now available.
Covering the need for international organisations, oceans, immigration, drug cartels, 'Operation Epic Fury' and more.

Read the new issue here and on the Global Insight app:
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This introductory report to the Digital Nomad Report [series] highlights the immigration aspects.'

Companies need to move from ad hoc decisions to coordinated, cross-functional frameworks that balance flexibility for employees with legal certainty for employers, protecting their business and ensuring compliance across all aspects.

'For multinational employers, the rise of digital nomads is less a lifestyle trend than a structural compliance challenge. Even short-term remote work across borders can trigger immigration, employment law, tax and social security risks if not properly assessed.

The Officers of the IBA Global Employment (GEI) Institute commented regarding the recent launch of their GEI Digital Nomad Report:

IBA Global Employment Institute (GEI) has published its 2026 introductory Digital Nomad Report, highlighting the increasing legal, tax and immigration challenges for multinational organisations, arising from cross-border remote work.

Read: www.ibanet.org/IBA-publishe...

Law firms in the Middle East plunged into uncertainty by Iran war Following attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against targets in neighbouring Gulf states, law firms in the Middle East have been plunged into survival mode. Since t...

Following attacks on Iran by the US and Israel, and Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against targets in neighbouring Gulf states, law firms in the Middle East have been plunged into survival mode. The environment is uncertain, with no clarity on how long the conflict will last or its ultimate impact.

UK higher education sector at crisis point Late last year, the UK government announced significant changes to student loans and the way that they’re repaid. A freeze on the Plan 2 student loan repayment threshold, means that those who took the...

Late last year, the UK government announced significant changes to student loans and the way they are repaid. Freezing the Plan 2 repayment threshold means those who took these loans will start repaying their debt sooner, as well as paying more annually and over their lifetime.

IBA Global Insight – conflict and global energy Global fuel prices have soared following Iran's effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel for the world's oil supply. The blockade and its consequences have highlighted the vo...

Global fuel prices soared after Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping channel, highlighting the energy market's volatility, as seen in the Russia-Ukraine war. We’ve selected some of the best of Global Insight's continuing coverage of these and related issues.

Nominate an outstanding #lawyer you know for an IBA Award in the categories of:
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Deadline: 23:59 BST, 10 May 2026.

Technology: Landmark US case ‘could launch a whole wave’ of addiction litigation A jury in a Californian court has found Meta and Google liable for intentionally building addictive social media platforms that harmed the mental health of a woman who used them as a child. The case, ...

In a landmark March 2026 ruling, a California jury found Meta and Google liable for intentionally creating addictive platforms that harmed a woman’s mental health as a child. This case opens the door to new ways to hold tech companies to account for allegations of harm to users.

Combatting the drug cartels From mega-prisons to missile strikes on civilian vessels, governments in the Americas are increasingly turning to exceptional uses of state power to combat criminal gangs.

From mega-prisons to missile strikes on civilian vessels, governments in the Americas are increasingly turning to exceptional uses of state power to combat criminal gangs. Global Insight examines the implications for the rule of law.

Protecting democracy The UK government has proposed legislation to close loopholes in political finance rules and prevent the influx of dirty money and undue foreign influence.

As the UK government acts quickly to block crypto donations and cap overseas political funding, the integrity of the political finance system is under scrutiny. Global Insight assesses flaws in the current system and changes needed to safeguard free and fair elections.
www.ibanet.org/UK-governmen...

IBA and a coalition of legal experts, diplomats and policymakers convened in #Geneva during the 61st session of UNHRC, to discuss #Russia's war in #Ukraine and the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

Read: www.ibanet.org/IBA-convenes...

Former #Uruguay President Julio Maria Sanguinetti's keynote speech received a standing ovation from delegates on Day 1 (23 Mar 2026) of the IBA M&A in #LatinAmerica conference in Punta del Este, Uruguay. He is recognised for his role in Uruguay's democratic transition.

#IBAMA26