Compliance Trends in 2025: Get Our CEO’s 4 Predictions

If I had to name three things that makes me upbeat, it has to be:

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My kids, heavy metal (no pun intended), and compliance.

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The reason for the last-mentioned is that legislation never stands still.

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And just when we thought we'd seen it all, new opportunities, challenges, cases, and dilemmas turn up.

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2025 will be no exception, in my opinion. Because I predict at least four trends in compliance that will be important and worth following this year.

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Trend #1: AI, AI... and more AI  

With OpenAI’s newly released Operator and DeepSeek’s push, there’s no doubt that 2025 will be all about AI.

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OpenAI's Operator crosses the magical border:

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‍It enables one computer (Operator) to communicate directly and verified with another computer (a browser) and act on behalf of a human being (the user).

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‍On the one hand, it opens a new world of opportunities... and on the other hand, risks and compliance headaches.

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The fast-paced changes underscore AI's transformative potential and its accompanying risks that must be handled.

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Trend #2: Stricter requirements on suppliers – compliance will be a competitive parameter

For every new regulatory compliance framework that sees the light of the day, there'll inevitably be requirements dripping downstream on suppliers.

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With more and more maturity and focus on NIS2, DORA, and vendor audits under GDPR, supplier compliance with legal and regulatory requirements has not ‘only’ become a necessity.  

It has become a critical differentiator.

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‍As businesses face mounting expectations around data protection, NIS2, DORA, and AI Act, those who can demonstrate robust compliance frameworks will gain a competitive edge.

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In 2025, I expect a greater focus on suppliers’ ability to meet the requirements of their customers. Otherwise, they’ll risk losing contracts and market share.

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More than ever, compliance can’t only be a back-office function but a strategic imperative that drives business relationships.

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Trend #3: EDPB’s opinion on sub-processors: The canary in the coal mine?

The recent EDPB opinion on processors and sub-processors marks the rising complexity of GDPR compliance - especially regarding sub-processors.

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By mandating that controllers keep detailed oversight across the entire ‘processing chain,’ including identifying all sub-processors downstream and verifying their guarantees, the regulatory bar has been set extraordinarily high.

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The danger of such requirements lies in creating a compliance paradox.

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A paradox where even diligent companies face inevitable violations due to the sheer impracticality of mapping and managing global data flows.

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These risks undermine trust in GDPR as a fair and enforceable legal framework.

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A potential consequence of this, as I see it?

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It will push businesses to deprioritize compliance altogether.

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For me and my colleagues in ComplyCloud, part of 2025 will be used to fuel a more practical approach, where automation helps avoid turning compliance into an unattainable goal for businesses.

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Trend #4: International transfers: The ultimate Mexican standoff

The ongoing conflict between the European Commission, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS), and Microsoft over the use of Microsoft 365 exemplifies a true ‘Mexican stand-off' in data protection.

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You gotta love it.

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The Commission endorses the tool, citing operational efficiency, while the EDPS challenges its compliance with GDPR.

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‍Particularly regarding potential U.S. data transfers.

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Microsoft - caught in the middle you might say - defends its safeguards but faces skepticism.  

This standoff highlights a broader tension between regulatory stringency, operational practicality, and global tech reliance.‍

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And that leaves organizations in a precarious position with no clear solution in sight.

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All eyes are on how this showdown will shape the future of cross-border data flows.

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Stay in the loop on the compliance trends

As our core competence is GDPR, NIS2 and the AI Act, we will keep a close eye on the trends within these compliance frameworks. If you want to stay in the loop, you are welcome to sign up for our newsletter.