REGULATORY WATCH

Privacy, AI governance and data protection developments across the US and the EU, from regulators, legislatures and courts.

⚖️ Latest developments 🌐 Jurisdictions 📚 Law library
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Last 30 days
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32
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Topic: consent · clear
104 developments
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Oct 5, 2026
EPIC analysis links pixel‑tracking litigation under ECPA and CIPA to upcoming Supreme Court VPPA case
EPIC outlines how recent court decisions using the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) address non‑consensual pixel tracking and its privacy harms. The analysis cites multiple…
HHS OCR · HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules
Moderate Settlement Settled United States (federal) · Oct 2, 2026
Meta’s Muse AI Agent raises privacy, security, and child safety concerns amid past FTC consent decree
Meta launched the Muse personal AI agent in September 2026, which collects extensive personal data and can act without clear user permission. EPIC reports multiple incidents where Muse accessed messages, shared home addresses, and…
Federal Trade Commission
Moderate Guidance Announced France · Sep 28, 2026
CNIL to host AIR 2026 event on political communication ethics and election manipulation on 16 Nov 2026
The French data‑protection authority CNIL will hold a public debate on 16 November 2026 about the ethical challenges of digital political communication and foreign interference. The programme will examine voter consent, data‑minimisation…
CNIL · RGPD
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 24, 2026
SBA seeks comments on modified matching program under Privacy Act
The U.S. Small Business Administration issued a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on a Privacy Act notice for a revised computer‑matching program. The program will compare SBA benefits records with the Treasury Department’s…
U.S. Small Business Administration · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate Court ruling Pending United States (federal) · Sep 23, 2026
Supreme Court hears digital‑privacy case involving Paramount and targeted advertising
The Electronic Privacy Information Center argued before the Supreme Court that Paramount and other online‑video companies are not obligated to use targeted advertising systems and can adopt privacy‑protective techniques. The case could set…
Moderate New law Signed California · Sep 23, 2026
California SB 1119 signed into law regulating AI chatbots for minors
The Future of Privacy Forum report notes that California’s SB 1119 was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom. The law targets chatbot interactions with minors, requiring disclosures, crisis‑response protocols, age assurance, parental…
SB 1119
Moderate Final regulation In effect United States (federal) · Sep 22, 2026
FCC adopts final rule clarifying TCPA “Revoke All” requirements
On September 9, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission issued a final rule amending the delayed “Revoke All” rule under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The rule will become effective 30 days after its publication.
Federal Communications Commission · Telephone Consumer Protection Act
Moderate Court ruling Pending United States (federal) · Sep 21, 2026
Supreme Court to decide VPPA consumer definition in Salazar v. Paramount Global
The Supreme Court will hear Salazar v. Paramount Global in the October 2026 term to resolve a circuit split on the definition of “consumer” under the Video Privacy Protection Act. The case arises from a class action alleging Paramount…
Video Privacy Protection Act
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed European Union · Sep 21, 2026
EU Commission proposes KIDS Act to impose age‑based restrictions and safety‑by‑design for children online
On September 17, 2026 the European Commission published a proposal for a new EU KIDS Act that would ban users under 15 from creating accounts on certain social networking and video‑sharing services, with limited exceptions. The draft…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed European Union · Sep 21, 2026
EU proposes Article 88c/88bis to allow unrestricted AI use of personal data
A leaked Irish Presidency document proposes that personal data used "in the context of AI" be automatically lawful, removing consent requirements. The draft Article 88c (now 88bis) would permit AI companies to process any personal data for…
European Commission · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 16, 2026
EPIC report: Data brokers sell personal data to Disney, GM, insurers and banks
EPIC highlights that data brokers collect and sell personal information to major companies such as Disney, General Motors, insurers and banks. The article notes that brokers infer additional characteristics like finance, health…
Moderate Guidance Published KE · Sep 16, 2026
Kenya publishes new guidance on cross‑border data transfers
On 8 September 2026 Kenya’s Office of the Data Protection Commissioner released detailed Guidance Notes on cross‑border data transfers. The guidance clarifies Kenya’s transfer framework, adds operational detail, and highlights differences…
Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate New law Signed California · Sep 10, 2026
California AB 1709, a ban on social media for under‑16, signed into law
AB 1709 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The law imposes a functional ban on social media use for people under the age of 16 and requires age‑verification. Critics say the ban will increase data collection and limit free…
AB 1709
Moderate Guidance In effect France · Sep 10, 2026 · effective Sep 1, 2026
CNIL guidance on data‑protection obligations under the electronic invoicing reform effective 1 Sept 2026
The CNIL explains the data‑protection implications of the French electronic invoicing reform that entered into force on 1 Sept 2026. It details which personal data may be processed, the roles of issuers, receivers and certified platforms…
CNIL · réforme relative à la facturation électronique
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed European Union · Sep 10, 2026
EU Commission proposes Article 88b for automated privacy signals in Digital Omnibus
The European Commission, as part of the Digital Omnibus package, proposed legally binding automated privacy signals under Article 88b of the GDPR to replace cookie banners. The proposal would let users set their privacy preferences once…
European Commission · California Delete Act
Moderate Enforcement Decided Ireland · Sep 7, 2026
Irish DPC welcomes court conviction of Brown Thomas for ePrivacy breaches
The Dublin Metropolitan District Court convicted Brown Thomas Arnotts Limited on 7 September 2026 for multiple breaches of Regulation 13 of the ePrivacy Regulations. The company pleaded guilty to five sample charges, including failures to…
Data Protection Commission · ePrivacy Directive
Moderate Settlement Announced United States (federal) · Sep 1, 2026
Meta to implement age‑verification framework under $17 B settlement with 52 U.S. states
Meta has agreed to a $17 billion settlement with 52 state attorneys general that mandates age‑assurance technology for its platforms. The settlement requires Meta to apply age‑verification methods within one year, classify users into 18+…
state attorneys general · Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Aug 31, 2026
EFF guide on doxxing incident response and digital footprint protection
The Electronic Frontier Foundation published a guide outlining steps for individuals and groups to respond to doxxing attacks. It covers incident logging, team role assignment, monitoring hate forums, setting up alerts, hardening accounts…
California Delete Act
Moderate New law In effect United States (federal) · Aug 31, 2026
Five US states enact location privacy laws banning sale of precise geolocation data
Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, and Virginia have enacted new consumer privacy statutes that prohibit the sale of precise geolocation data. The laws vary in their consent and minimization requirements, but all share a ban on…
MD AG · Maryland Online Data Privacy Act
Moderate Settlement Settled Connecticut · Aug 27, 2026
Connecticut AG settles with TaxAct over taxpayer data disclosures via tracking tech
On August 19, 2026, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $275,000 settlement with TaxAct for improperly disclosing taxpayer information to advertising partners through third‑party tracking technologies. The settlement…
Connecticut Attorney General
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Coming up
Oct 2026
13
FHFA proposes to rescind SORN FHFA-12 and consolidate records under SORN FHFA-11
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
26
Peace Corps announces new CRM system of records (PC 38) effective Oct 26, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
28
HHS modifies ORR Unaccompanied Children system of records, effective Oct 28, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
2
DOI establishes new matching program under Privacy Act of 1974
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
5
Treasury exempts new tip intake records from certain Privacy Act provisions
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
6
Treasury proposes new system of records for federal student aid data
United States (federal) · effective
Nov 2026
16
NARA proposes revisions to System of Records NARA 44 for reasonable accommodation requests
United States (federal) · effective
Jan 2027
1
Colorado governor signs SB 26-189, revising AI Act to regulate ADMT in employment
Colorado · effective
Jan 2027
1
NY Attorney General urges workers to file whistleblower complaints on unsafe AI development
New York · effective
Jan 2027
1
Delaware Governor signs HB 380, amending the DPDPA effective Jan 1 2027
Delaware · effective
Jan 2027
1
California Legislature passes SB 690 to limit pen register lawsuits under CIPA
California · effective
Jan 2027
1
Colorado AI Act (SB 26-189, replacing SB 24-205)
Colorado · law takes effect
By jurisdiction
United States (federal)66 new · 16 laws European Union18 new · 14 laws California14 new · 5 laws France12 new · 0 laws New York6 new · 2 laws Global6 new · 0 laws Italy4 new · 0 laws Spain4 new · 0 laws Texas2 new · 3 laws Vermont2 new · 2 laws Ireland2 new · 0 laws Utah1 new · 2 laws
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Topics this month
privacy · 107security · 59ai governance · 46transparency · 29data minimization · 27children · 26profiling · 24automated decision making · 22cybersecurity · 16consent · 14targeted advertising · 14data governance · 13