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: ai governance · clear
104 developments
Low Guidance Announced California · Oct 9, 2026
EFF joins Oakland Tech Week to discuss surveillance and AI impacts
The Electronic Frontier Foundation participated in Oakland Tech Week on Sept. 30, co‑presenting an all‑day event with MediaJustice and Upturn. Attendees discussed how technology can empower or oppress communities, focusing on surveillance…
Moderate Guidance Announced European Union · Oct 9, 2026
Commission holds special meeting of Scientific Panel on frontier AI safety and risks
The European Commission convened a special meeting of the Scientific Panel on AI, which includes 60 independent experts. The panel advises the EU AI Office and national authorities on systemic risks, model classification, evaluation…
European Commission · EU AI Act
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed France · Oct 8, 2026
CNIL examines draft deliberation authorizing BIG DATA SANTE to process personal data for anonymized medical research (ONCOVAL)
During its plenary session on 8 October 2026, the CNIL will consider a draft deliberation that would permit BIG DATA SANTE (Octopize Mimethik Data) to carry out automated processing of personal data to create anonymised datasets for…
Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) · Law of 6 January 1978
High Fine Published Netherlands · Oct 8, 2026
Dutch DPA fines Uber €824.99 million for unlawful automated decision‑making
The Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens imposed an administrative fine of €824,990,000 on Uber for violating GDPR Article 22 by automatically deactivating drivers’ accounts and for failing to provide sufficient information under Article 13. The…
Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Guidance Published Spain · Oct 8, 2026
AEPD publishes second issue of scientific journal “Privacy, Innovation and Technology”
The Spanish Data Protection Agency released the second issue of its scientific journal PIT, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the GDPR. The monograph examines proactive responsibility, the right to explanation in automated decisions…
Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) · Reglamento General de Protección de Datos (RGPD)
Moderate New law Signed California · Oct 6, 2026
California Governor signs over 20 AI‑related bills into law
Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than 20 bills covering AI transparency, synthetic performer disclosures, chatbot labeling, and industry‑specific AI use restrictions. The measures amend the California AI Transparency Act, create new…
California AI Transparency Act
Moderate Proposed regulation Announced European Union · Oct 6, 2026
Commission registers European Citizens' Initiative for sovereign European AI domains
The European Commission has officially registered a European Citizens' Initiative that calls for the creation of sovereign European AI domains. The initiative seeks to shape future EU policy on artificial intelligence and digital…
European Commission
High Enforcement Published Spain · Oct 6, 2026 · effective Oct 6, 2026
AEPD issues warnings to two Spanish municipalities over AI‑enabled video surveillance projects
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) sent preventive warnings (AI‑00170‑2026 and AI‑00171‑2026) to two local councils regarding planned video‑surveillance systems that use automated image analysis with AI. The agency stresses that the…
Agencia Española de Protección de Datos · Reglamento General de Protección de Datos
Low FRAMEWORK UPDATE Announced Global · Oct 5, 2026
Future of Privacy Forum urges standardized privacy benchmarks for frontier AI systems
The paper argues that standardized privacy benchmarks are needed to evaluate privacy risks in frontier AI models, including data memorization, inference of sensitive attributes, and over‑collection. It describes emerging efforts such as…
Low Lawsuit filed Filed United States (federal) · Oct 2, 2026
EPIC files amicus brief challenging Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy sale of employee data to Google
EPIC and Professor Seema Patel submitted an amicus brief in a bankruptcy case to contest Spirit Airlines' proposed $10 million sale of employee data to Google for AI training. The brief argues the sale lacks adequate privacy protections…
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
Low Court ruling Decided New York · Oct 2, 2026
Federal judge rejects motion to dismiss social media surveillance lawsuit against Trump administration
A U.S. District Court in New York denied the government’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by three labor unions alleging viewpoint‑based social media surveillance of noncitizens. The case, filed in October 2025, targets the Departments…
Administrative Procedure Act
Moderate New law Signed California · Oct 2, 2026
California Governor signs three AI employment laws
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 947, SB 951, and AB 1883 to regulate AI in employment. The laws restrict automated decision systems, require technology-related layoff notices, and limit workplace surveillance tools. Each law includes civil…
California Labor Commissioner · SB 947 (No Robo Bosses Act)
Moderate Proposed regulation Proposed European Union · Oct 1, 2026
EU Commission proposes KIDS Act to ban social‑media access for under‑13s and set minimum account age of 15
The European Commission has presented the EU KIDS Act, which would prohibit social‑media platforms from providing services to children under 13 and require a minimum age of 15 for users to open their own accounts. The proposal shifts the…
European Commission · EU KIDS Act
Low Guidance Published United States (federal) · Sep 30, 2026
EFF discusses privacy implications of Apple Siri AI features in iOS 27
The EFF newsletter examines how Apple’s new Siri AI in iOS 27 handles user data. It contrasts on‑device processing with server‑side processing and explains the privacy risks. The piece offers guidance on limiting the data Siri can access.
Moderate Guidance Announced United States (federal) · Sep 30, 2026
Commerce Department seeks input on digitizing and modernizing the National Technical Reports Library
The National Technical Information Service (NTIS) issued a Request for Information to gather stakeholder feedback on fully digitizing the National Technical Reports Library (NTRL). The agency aims to make the technical reports more…
National Technical Information Service
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
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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