With rapid advancements in AI, evolving regulatory expectations, and increasing scrutiny on data governance, ensuring your policies are robust, compliant, and future-ready is essential and what better time than as we approach the end of the year.

Key 2026 Considerations: AI, Ethics & Regulatory Readiness  

As organisations continue integrating AI into operational processes, 2026 brings a heightened need to ensure that AI systems are used safely, fairly, and in compliance with both GDPR and the incoming EU AI Act.

Here are additional considerations to factor into your year-end review:

AI: Hero or Villain? Control Determines the Outcome  

AI is now capable of remarkable feats – from predictive healthcare to automated decision-making, but its impact depends entirely on how ethically and responsibly it is applied. AI trained on huge datasets can just as easily amplify bias as it can improve efficiency, making governance essential.

Evaluate AI Systems Through a Risk-Based Lens  

The EU AI Act introduces a risk-tiered model similar to GDPR’s accountability principles. For 2026, ensure you are prepared to:

• Identify any high-risk AI systems in use (e.g., hiring tools, credit assessment, biometric systems).
• Apply strict requirements for transparency, human oversight, and data governance
• Label and disclose AI-generated content where required.

Incorporate AI Into DPIAs  

AI systems frequently meet the GDPR “high-risk” threshold due to profiling, automation, and potential impact on individuals. Your DPIAs should review:

• Algorithmic bias
• Data quality and minimisation
• Transparency challenges (e.g., black-box decision-making),
• Safeguards such as human review, anonymisation, and clear legal bases for training data.

Ensure Ethical Intent in AI Deployment  

2026 brings heightened expectations that AI is not just compliant but aligned with human values and societal benefit. Ethical intent means:

• Prioritising fairness
• Preventing discrimination
• Ensuring accountability in automated decisions
• Designing technology that serves people — not replaces responsibility

Prepare for the end of 2025

Download our practical Year-End Data Protection Checklist to get your organisation in good shape ready for 2026. Key points include:

1. Review and Update Data Protection Policies  

2. Conduct Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs  )

3. Audit Data Processing Activities  

4. Review Training and Awareness  

5. Assess Incident Response and Breach Management  

6. Monitor Compliance with Data Protection Laws  

7. Security Controls and Data Protection Measures  

8. Risk Management and Governance  

9. Report to Senior Management  

10. Plan for the New Year  

Conclusion 

By following this checklist (don’t forget to download PDF copy here), you can ensure that your organisations data protection practices remain robust, compliant and aligned with the latest regulations. By incorporating AI governance into your year-end review, your organisation can enter 2026 with stronger compliance, improved resilience, and clearer accountability around the technologies shaping the future.Get in touch to see how the ProvePrivacy platform could help your organisation manage and monitor data protection compliance.