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
148
Last 30 days
19
High or critical
32
Enforcement actions
72
Laws tracked
All types Enforcement Legislation Rulemaking Guidance Litigation
Any impact Critical High Moderate Any time 7 days 30 days 90 days
496 developments
Low Guidance Announced California · Sep 29, 2026
San Francisco announces new ALPR policy with limited safeguards, no warrant requirement, 30‑day data transfer deadline
San Francisco released a policy that retains Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) surveillance but provides only limited safeguards. The policy does not require a warrant to search stored ALPR data and sets a 30‑day deadline to move data…
San Francisco Police Department
Low Guidance Announced United States (federal) · Sep 29, 2026
EFF launches 'Privacy’s Defenders' podcast on digital surveillance history
The Electronic Frontier Foundation released a new podcast episode featuring Cindy Cohn and John Gilmore discussing mass surveillance, early internet activism, and ongoing privacy challenges. The episode highlights historical battles…
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 29, 2026
Federal Register restricts automated scraping; requires API use and CAPTCHA verification
The Federal Register warns that programmatic access to FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov is limited to its developer APIs due to aggressive automated scraping. Users must use the APIs or complete a CAPTCHA to verify they are human. The…
Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate Guidance Announced United States (federal) · Sep 29, 2026
FCC and USAC launch new computer matching program to verify Lifeline eligibility
The Federal Communications Commission and the Universal Service Administrative Company will conduct a computer matching program with the Connecticut Department of Social Services. The program is intended to verify the eligibility of…
Federal Communications Commission · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate Guidance Proposed United States (federal) · Sep 29, 2026
Agency seeks comment on proposed information collection for protection of human subjects
The agency announced a proposed collection of information related to the protection of human subjects and Institutional Review Boards and is requesting public comment. The notice also notes that programmatic access to FederalRegister.gov…
Food and Drug Administration · Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Low Proposed regulation Proposed California · Sep 28, 2026
San Francisco Police Department proposes expanded drone surveillance policy, drawing criticism from EFF
The San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) has issued a new proposed policy that would allow broader use of drones for public safety and patrol. The policy has been criticized by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and other groups for…
San Francisco Police Commission · Proposition E
Moderate Proposed bill Proposed United States (federal) · Sep 28, 2026
U.S. lawmakers introduce AI AGENT Act and California SB 1106 defining AI agents
This summer U.S. lawmakers released two of the first legislative proposals for regulating AI agents: the federal AI AGENT Act and California SB 1106. The AI AGENT Act would establish a consumer‑facing framework based on the agent’s…
CPPA · California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended by CPRA)
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed United States (federal) · Sep 28, 2026
EPIC and consumer groups urge FTC to ban surveillance pricing, calling disclosure insufficient
On September 25, EPIC and several consumer groups filed comments with the FTC urging it to go beyond disclosure in its Proposed Enforcement Policy Statement on personalized pricing. The commenters argue that surveillance pricing violates…
Federal Trade Commission · FTC Act Section 5
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
Low Investigation Announced Texas · Sep 28, 2026
Texas AG Paxton launches investigation into AI data center development on land originally conveyed for park use
Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation into a proposed AI data center in Taylor, Texas, built on land conveyed in 1999 for future public park use. The probe will examine whether the trust and deed restrictions were altered…
Texas Attorney General
Moderate Final regulation Published California · Sep 28, 2026
California Privacy Protection Agency adopts multiple regulations including Conflict of Interest Code Amendments and Data Broker Registration Fee
The CPPA has adopted several regulations, such as the Conflict of Interest Code Amendments Regulation (September 2026) and Data Broker Registration Fee Regulation (December 2025). These were adopted through the Administrative Procedures…
California Privacy Protection Agency · California Consumer Privacy Act (as amended by CPRA)
Moderate Guidance Published Ireland · Sep 28, 2026
Data Protection Commission releases AI Insights Report covering 2021‑2025 supervision
The Irish Data Protection Commission published a report on its supervision of AI products and services from 2021 to 2025, noting a rise in AI engagements and improvements in lawful basis, transparency and data‑minimisation. The report…
Data Protection Commission
Moderate Guidance Published European Union · Sep 28, 2026
ENISA launches podcast series on Frontier AI and publishes guidance note on cybersecurity in the Frontier AI era
ENISA announced a new podcast series to discuss the latest cybersecurity developments, with the first episode focusing on Frontier AI. In July 2026 the agency also published a note providing recommendations for national authorities and EU…
ENISA
Moderate FRAMEWORK UPDATE Published European Union · Sep 28, 2026
EU Commission releases two reports on generative AI and digital education impacts
The European Commission published two reports examining the implications of generative AI for education and the state of digital transformation in European schools. The findings will inform the Commission's work on the Union of Skills and…
European Commission
High Interpretation Published European Union · Sep 28, 2026
Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox as VLOPs/VLOSE under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the DSA, citing each service’s reach of at least 45 million EU monthly users. The designated…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 28, 2026
Federal Register restricts automated scraping, requires CAPTCHA and API use
The Federal Register warns that aggressive automated scraping of its sites is limited to access via developer APIs. Human users must complete a CAPTCHA to continue, and may be asked to do so repeatedly as a security measure.
Department of Defense · Privacy Act of 1974
High Final regulation In effect United States (federal) · Sep 28, 2026 · effective Oct 28, 2026
HHS modifies ORR Unaccompanied Children system of records, effective Oct 28, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services is amending the Office of Refugee Resettlement's system of records for unaccompanied children. The change renames the system to "ORR Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB) Administrative…
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 25, 2026
DoD updates SORN for DON Child and Youth Program to align with cybersecurity policies
The Department of Defense is modifying and reissuing the system of records titled "DON Child and Youth Program" (NM01754-3) under the Privacy Act of 1974. The updates incorporate DoD standard routine uses A through J, expand the collection…
Department of Defense · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 25, 2026
CMS re-establishes matching program with Treasury's Do Not Pay Working System under Privacy Act
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the re-establishment of a data matching program with the Do Not Pay Working System, administered by the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service. The notice cites subsection (e)(12) of the…
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services · Privacy Act of 1974
High Guidance In effect United States (federal) · Sep 25, 2026 · effective Oct 26, 2026
Peace Corps announces new CRM system of records (PC 38) effective Oct 26, 2026
The Peace Corps Office of Planning and Performance issued a public notice of a new system of records, the Peace Corps Customer Relationship Management (PC 38) system. The system will monitor, track, and analyze interactions with…
Peace Corps Office of Planning and Performance · Privacy Act of 1974
← NewerOlder →
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
All jurisdictions →
Topics this month
privacy · 107security · 59ai governance · 46transparency · 29data minimization · 27children · 26profiling · 24automated decision making · 22cybersecurity · 16consent · 14targeted advertising · 14data governance · 13