The Data Day: World Data Protection Day & Regulatory Insights for 2026

On this special edition of The Data Day podcast, Ropes & Gray partner Rohan Massey—leader of the firm’s data, privacy & cybersecurity practice and managing partner of the London office—is joined by counsel Edward Machin and associates Catherine Keeling and Suzie Wilson to celebrate the 19th World Data Protection Day and explore the evolving landscape of data, privacy, and cybersecurity regulation across the UK and EU in 2026. The discussion covers headline-making cybersecurity breaches, new compliance obligations under DORA and the Cyber Resilience Act, and the anticipated UK cyber bill. The panel also examines the regulatory outlook for AI, including key dates for the EU AI Act and the potential direction of the UK’s AI Bill. Rounding out the conversation, the team highlights upcoming changes in digital regulation, such as the UK’s Data (Use and Access) Act, the EU Data Act, and the Digital Omnibus package.