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
Low
Court ruling
In effect
United States (federal) · Oct 1, 2026
Court order forces Google to allow third‑party app stores on Play Store
A court order stemming from Epic Games v. Google requires Google to permit rival Android app stores to be listed in the Play Store and to let developers direct users to alternative payment and distribution options. The change expands user…
Low
Court ruling
In effect
Utah · Oct 1, 2026
Federal judge blocks Utah's anti-VPN age‑verification law (SB 73) with preliminary injunction
A U.S. federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of Utah's SB 73, which required adult websites to block VPN users or determine their physical location for age verification. The court found the statute imposes a…
Utah SB 73
Low
Court ruling
Pending
United States (federal) · Sep 21, 2026
D.C. Circuit urged to vacate FAA drone restriction that criminalized recording immigration agents
EFF and co‑plaintiffs filed an amicus brief in Levine v. FAA asking the D.C. Circuit to void an FAA rule that barred drones from recording DHS immigration agents. The FAA rescinded the rule in April, but pilots could still be punished for…
Federal Aviation Administration
Low
Court ruling
Decided
United States (federal) · Sep 2, 2026
Federal judge rules DoD illegally retaliated against Anthropic for refusing mass surveillance use
Anthropic sued the Department of Defense after being labeled a “supply chain risk” for refusing to let its AI be used for mass surveillance of U.S. persons. A federal judge held that the designation was unlawful retaliation in violation of…
First Amendment
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
France · Aug 26, 2026
French Constitutional Council strikes down law banning social media for under‑15s
France’s top court invalidated the legislation that prohibited people under 15 from using social media. The Council found the ban infringed freedom of expression and the right to private life by imposing mandatory age verification. The…
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
Ireland · Oct 12, 2020
Irish High Court grants judicial review to stop Facebook EU-US data transfers
The Irish High Court granted leave for a judicial review filed by privacy group noyb against the Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) to compel a decision on Facebook's EU‑US data transfers. The action seeks to enforce the European Court…
Irish Data Protection Commission · Standard Contractual Clauses
Moderate
Court ruling
Announced
Ireland · Sep 14, 2020
Irish High Court grants Facebook leave to file Judicial Review, stays DPC EU‑US data‑flow investigation
The Irish High Court granted Facebook leave to bring a Judicial Review (Case No 2020/617 JR) and ordered a stay of the Data Protection Commission's ex officio investigation into Facebook's EU‑US data transfers. The DPC may resume the…
Data Protection Commission (DPC) · Standard Contractual Clauses
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
European Union · Jul 16, 2020
CJEU invalidates EU‑US Privacy Shield and bars use of SCCs for Facebook
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the EU‑US Privacy Shield is invalid because US surveillance laws conflict with EU fundamental rights. It also held that Standard Contractual Clauses cannot be used by Facebook and…
European Commission · Standard Contractual Clauses
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
European Union · Jul 12, 2020
CJEU judgment limits EU‑US data outsourcing, confirms 'necessary' transfers exempt
The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that "necessary" transfers of personal data to the US are not affected by the case, while voluntary outsourcing of processing to US providers may violate the GDPR. The judgment confirms the invalidity…
European Commission · Standard Contractual Clauses
Low
Class action
Announced
Malta · May 27, 2020
Massive political data leak in Malta prompts class action
A database of 337,384 Maltese voters' personal information, including political affiliation, was publicly accessible for at least a year after being stored by C‑Planet IT Solutions in an open directory. The leak violates GDPR provisions on…
Maltese Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low
Court ruling
Decided
Ireland · May 31, 2019
Irish Supreme Court dismisses Facebook’s application to halt EU‑US data‑transfer reference
The Irish Supreme Court dismissed Facebook’s application, finding it had jurisdiction to intervene but the company failed to substantiate its request. The court therefore did not take the actions sought by Facebook, allowing the case to…
Irish Data Protection Commission · Safe Harbor
