Low
Court ruling
Dismissed
California · Oct 13, 2026
California trial court dismisses SIREN v. San Jose challenge to warrantless ALPR searches
A California trial court dismissed SIREN v. San Jose, a case brought by EFF and the ACLU challenging the city’s warrantless searches of automated license plate reader data. The court held that drivers have no reasonable expectation of…
California Constitution
Moderate
Court ruling
Decided
United States (federal) · Oct 13, 2026
Bernstein v. DOJ ruling holds encryption code is protected speech
The podcast notes that the 1995 case Bernstein v. Department of Justice held that code is speech protected by the First Amendment. This precedent underpins modern internet privacy and encryption. The case was brought by Dan Bernstein with…
CPPA · California Delete Act
Moderate
Guidance
Published
European Union · Oct 13, 2026
CEPD issues guidance on data protection challenges of smart glasses
The European Data Protection Board adopted a declaration on connected glasses and released a report outlining privacy risks. It clarifies when users act as data controllers under the GDPR and stresses that manufacturers and service…
European Data Protection Board (CEPD) · RGPD
Moderate
Guidance
Published
European Union · Oct 13, 2026
EDPB issues guidance on privacy challenges of smart glasses
The European Data Protection Board adopted statement 1/2026 on smart glasses, highlighting serious privacy concerns and the need for transparency. It clarifies when users act as data controllers and stresses that manufacturers and service…
European Data Protection Board · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Fine
In effect
France · Oct 13, 2026
French DPA fines Google €325 million for spam emails in Gmail
The French data protection authority imposed a €325 million administrative fine on Google for sending spam emails through Gmail, citing violations of the GDPR.
French Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
High
Proposed regulation
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 13, 2026 · effective Oct 13, 2026
FHFA proposes to rescind SORN FHFA-12 and consolidate records under SORN FHFA-11
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced a proposal to rescind the existing System of Records Notice (SORN) FHFA-12, which covers parking program records. The agency will consolidate those records with its transit subsidy…
Federal Housing Finance Agency · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
Guidance
Announced
European Union · Oct 12, 2026
Future of Privacy Forum Announces 2026 Award Recipients Honoring Data Protection Leadership in Europe
The Future of Privacy Forum announced the winners of its 2026 Awards, recognizing the European Data Protection Supervisor, scholar Christopher Kuner, and SAP executive Corinna Cellarius for their contributions to data protection and…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
High
Fine
In effect
Italy · Oct 12, 2026 · effective Jun 5, 2026
Italian DPA fines Wind Tre €16.7 million for unlawful telemarketing
The Italian Data Protection Authority imposed an administrative fine of EUR 16 700 000 on Wind Tre S.p.A. for violations of GDPR principles in its telemarketing and contract activation practices. The authority also issued a definitive ban…
Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Guidance
Published
European Union · Oct 12, 2026
noyb ranks EU Parliament members on their stance toward GDPR and ePrivacy amendments
noyb analysed over 1,000 amendments to the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive linked to the Digital Omnibus reform, grading each MEP on whether their changes strengthen or weaken privacy protections. The report finds the European People’s Party…
ePrivacy Directive
Moderate
Executive order
Signed
United States (federal) · Oct 9, 2026
President Trump issues executive order creating federal voter eligibility list
In March 2026, President Trump issued an executive order directing DHS to compile a list of U.S. citizens 18 years or older and directing DOJ to prosecute officials who provide ballots to ineligible voters. The order has been challenged by…
Privacy Act of 1974
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…
Low
Enforcement
In effect
TR · Oct 9, 2026
Turkish courts block LGBTQ+ NGOs' websites and detain activists under obscenity and criminal organization laws
Since mid‑September, Turkish courts have ordered the blocking of websites and social media accounts of several LGBTQ+ organizations and have detained over 60 activists. Investigations are being conducted under Article 226 (obscenity) and…
Turkish Penal Code
Moderate
Guidance
Published
France · Oct 9, 2026
CNIL hosts 2nd Rencontres Informatique & Libertés on connected glasses and data‑sanctions
The French data‑protection authority CNIL held its second Rencontres Informatique & Libertés on 29 September 2026, featuring panels on the privacy impact of connected glasses and the role of sanctions under the GDPR. The event gathered…
CNIL · RGPD
High
Data protection authority action
Decided
Italy · Oct 9, 2026 · effective Sep 23, 2026
Italian DPA fines IQVIA €7 million for unlawful processing of patients’ health data
The Italian Data Protection Authority imposed an administrative fine of EUR 7,000,000 on IQVIA Solutions Italy S.r.l. for processing health data without a legal basis, inadequate information to patients, and missing DPIA and retention…
Italian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
High
Fine
In effect
Italy · Oct 9, 2026 · effective Jul 3, 2026
Italian DPA fines BBVA €5.508 million for ignoring customer’s objection to direct marketing
The Italian Data Protection Authority issued a final decision on 3 July 2026 finding BBVA infringed Articles 5, 12, 21 and 24 of the GDPR by failing to honor a customer's objection to direct marketing. BBVA was ordered to pay an…
Italian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low
Interpretation
Published
Global · Oct 8, 2026
EFF warns age‑verification laws risk excluding people without ID
The EFF analysis highlights a global surge in mandatory age‑verification requirements for social‑media and other digital services, citing laws in Australia, India, the United Kingdom, and many U.S. states. It argues that ID‑based checks…
Online Safety Act
Moderate
Proposed bill
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 8, 2026
EPIC urges Congress to ban CBP's use of financial data in predictive policing
EPIC reports that Customs & Border Patrol's Predictive Intelligence Targeting Teams are using financial records and travel data to target individuals without disclosing how the data was obtained. The article cites past ICE bulk subpoenas…
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) · Right to Financial Privacy Act
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
Vermont · Oct 8, 2026
Future of Privacy Forum submits comments on Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Code rulemaking
On October 2, 2026 the Future of Privacy Forum filed comments to the Vermont Attorney General’s rulemaking for the Age-Appropriate Design Code. The act, enacted in June 2025, sets duties for businesses serving minors and will become…
Vermont Office of the Attorney General · California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act
Moderate
Guidance
In effect
Italy · Oct 8, 2026 · effective Oct 29, 2026 · deadline Oct 29, 2026
Italian Garante's tracking-pixel guidelines become effective Oct 29, 2026
The Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante) issued guidelines governing the use of tracking pixels in email communications. Organizations must comply with the guidelines by October 29, 2026. The guidelines are now effective as of that…
Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante)
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
