Client updates /  Regulation

For the first time, Israel’s Supreme Court has established a clear test for calculating financial sanctions under the Consumer Protection Law, depending on whether the conduct constitutes a single act or multiple separate acts.

Installing a “robot” for algorithmic trading and defining its parameters is not deemed a “technological service” but may constitute investment portfolio management, which requires a license. This is because the service provider retains material discretion (choice of platform, transaction volume, profit and loss targets, and risk management), even when the account and funds are in clients’ names.

The European Parliament has announced that agreement has been reached on the Digital Omnibus proposal for changes in the EU AI Act. Although still subject to completion of the formal legislative process, these changes represent a significant regulatory development and provide greater clarity as to the direction of EU AI legislation.

In March 2026, the Ministry of Economy and Industry published a draft bill to replace the current dual-use export control orders with comprehensive primary legislation. The proposed law aims to broaden regulatory oversight and establish a more effective, modern framework for controlling exports of civilian, nuclear, biological, and chemical items.

The Bank of Israel recently issued its decision to expand the identification code used by banking corporations and nonbank entities to connect to payment systems from two digits to three digits. While ostensibly only a technical change, in practice it is a significant step that will enable financial entities to hold accounts and transfer funds for customers directly and independently, without relying on existing banks.

ISA staff confirmed that activities of foreign research firms publishing “sponsored analyses” to investors abroad are not subject to the Israeli Advice Law. This determination provides certainty for foreign entities covering Israeli companies, provided they carry out and distribute the activity exclusively outside Israel.

The Israel Securities Authority published a new staff position recently on the regulation of advertising in digital space (including on social networks), focusing on advertising relating to mutual funds. The staff position seeks to bridge the gap between the law and the dynamic reality in today’s digital age, and focuses on regulating ongoing online activities and activities with external parties.

The Israeli Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prohibition Authority (IMPA) published a document recently to raise awareness of the new challenges abuses of Generative AI and Deepfake pose to the financial sector. The document reviews the potential risks of use of these technologies, presents case studies from Israel and around the world, discusses emerging threats, and provides a list of “red flags” to help identify suspicious activities.

Amendment 13 to the Israeli Privacy Protection Law significantly strengthens the PPA’s enforcement powers, requiring insurance agencies to ensure strict compliance in handling personal and sensitive data. Agencies must implement robust data security, transparency, and control measures to avoid substantial fines and regulatory sanctions.

Prediction markets have experienced rapid growth in recent years, thanks to the emergence of platforms attracting millions of users, such as Kalshi and Polymarket. These platforms have proven successful in predicting the outcomes of diverse events.