Moderate
Guidance
Published
United States (federal) · Oct 19, 2026
Federal Register limits automated scraping with CAPTCHAs and API access
The Federal Register website warns that aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov is restricted. Programmatic access is limited to the agency's developer APIs, and users may be required to complete CAPTCHAs. The…
Federal Register
High
Proposed regulation
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 19, 2026 · effective Oct 19, 2026
FCC proposes to modify system of records for National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
The Federal Communications Commission proposes amendments to the FCC/CGB-3 system of records, updating its purposes, categories of individuals and records, and adding two new routine uses. The changes are intended to meet Privacy Act…
Federal Communications Commission · Privacy Act of 1974
High
Final regulation
In effect
United States (federal) · Oct 19, 2026 · effective Oct 19, 2026
FCC modifies Lifeline Program system of records (FCC/WCB-1) under the Privacy Act
The Federal Communications Commission is amending the FCC/WCB-1 system of records that supports the Lifeline Program, which provides discounted voice and broadband services to low‑income households. The amendment updates the categories of…
Federal Communications Commission · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
FRAMEWORK UPDATE
Announced
European Union · Oct 16, 2026
Commission launches RAISE pledging initiative to boost AI support for researchers across Europe
The European Commission announced the launch of the RAISE pledging initiative, aimed at providing AI support to researchers across Europe. The program seeks to foster AI research, facilitate access to AI tools, and encourage collaboration…
European Commission
Moderate
Guidance
Published
France · Oct 16, 2026
CNIL guidance on reconstituting professional email addresses and data subject rights
The CNIL explains that organisations may deduce a professional email address from publicly available information, but must comply with the GDPR and specific commercial prospecting rules. Data subjects must be informed clearly about the…
CNIL · RGPD
High
Guidance
Published
France · Oct 16, 2026 · effective Oct 16, 2026
CNIL guidance on lawful reconstitution of professional email addresses
The CNIL explains that reconstructing professional email addresses from publicly available data must comply with the GDPR and can rely on legitimate interest only if specific conditions are met. Organizations must assess the visibility of…
CNIL · RGPD
High
Fine
Decided
Norway (EEA) · Oct 16, 2026
Norwegian DPA fines Xandr €8.6M for unlawful processing of Grindr users' data
The Norwegian Data Protection Authority issued a final decision on 2 October 2026 imposing an administrative fine of EUR 8.6 million on Xandr Inc. for processing personal and special category data of Grindr users without valid consent.…
Norwegian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate
Guidance
Announced
United States (federal) · Oct 16, 2026
FFIEC Extends Regulatory Capital Reporting Collection (FFIEC 101) for Three Years
The Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) announced a three‑year extension of the Regulatory Capital Reporting collection for institutions subject to the Advanced Capital Adequacy Framework (FFIEC 101). No public…
Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) · Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Low
Court ruling
Decided
New York · Oct 15, 2026
Southern District of New York denies government motion to dismiss lawsuit over Trump admin social media surveillance of noncitizens
A federal district court rejected the government’s arguments that immigration law bars the case and that the unions lack standing, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. The court found that the surveillance program causes concrete injuries…
Immigration and Nationality Act
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
France · Oct 15, 2026
CNIL examines draft decree on real‑time audio capture by public transport operators
The CNIL plenary session on 15 October 2026 will examine a draft deliberation providing an opinion on a draft decree concerning the experimentation of real‑time sound capture and transmission systems by bus and coach operators. The agenda…
Commission nationale de l'informatique et des libertés (CNIL) · décret n° 2022‑377 du 17 mars 2022
Moderate
Enforcement
In effect
United States (federal) · Oct 15, 2026
FTC orders Walmart to pay over $9.8M to consumers harmed by wire‑transfer scams
The Federal Trade Commission is sending payments totaling more than $9.8 million to consumers harmed by Walmart’s alleged failure to stop scammers that used its wire transfer services to defraud U.S. customers. The restitution follows FTC…
Federal Trade Commission
High
Guidance
Published
Spain · Oct 15, 2026 · deadline Dec 20, 2026
AEPD launches call for articles for third issue of Revista PIT on GDPR and emerging regulations
The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) announced a call for original research articles for the third issue of its scientific journal "Privacidad, Innovación y Tecnología (PIT)". Submissions are accepted from 1 November to 20 December…
Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) · Reglamento General de Protección de Datos (RGPD)
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 15, 2026
DOJ proposes exemption for BJS statistical data system from certain Privacy Act provisions
The Office of Justice Programs announced a notice of a new system of records, BJS Statistical Data (JUSTICE/OJP-017), covering data collected under 34 U.S.C. 10132. The agency proposes to exempt this system from specific Privacy Act…
U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 15, 2026
DOJ EOIR proposes new system of records for Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) intends to create a new system of records notice, JUSTICE/EOIR-006, to cover all Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program records. The new notice would replace partial coverage under the…
Department of Justice · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
United States (federal) · Oct 15, 2026
DOJ proposes to exempt EOIR "Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program Records" from certain Privacy Act provisions
The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) announced a new system of records titled "Fraud and Abuse Prevention Program Records" (JUSTICE/EOIR-006). EOIR proposes to exempt this system from specific provisions of the Privacy Act to…
Executive Office for Immigration Review · Privacy Act of 1974
High
Guidance
In effect
United States (federal) · Oct 15, 2026 · effective Nov 24, 2026
Farm Credit Administration amends employee payroll system of records under Privacy Act, effective Nov 24, 2026
The Farm Credit Administration announced an amendment to its FCA-1 system of records covering employee attendance, leave, and payroll. The amendment updates the categories of individuals and records maintained and revises the policies and…
Farm Credit Administration · Privacy Act of 1974
Low
Lawsuit filed
Filed
Wisconsin · Oct 14, 2026
EFF and ACLU file petition to Wisconsin Supreme Court seeking warrant for ALPR database searches
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and the ACLU of Wisconsin have filed a petition with the Wisconsin Supreme Court asking the court to require a warrant for retrospective searches of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) databases. The…
Low
Enforcement
Published
United States (federal) · Oct 14, 2026
DHS OIG audit finds TSA failed to safeguard passenger facial recognition data
The DHS Office of Inspector General reported a significant weakness in TSA's facial recognition system, noting that the vendor could access and extract sensitive driver’s license and passport images without TSA’s knowledge. The audit found…
Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG)
Moderate
New law
Signed
California · Oct 14, 2026 · effective Jan 1, 2027
California Governor signs SB 1050 requiring AI synthetic performer disclosures in ads
Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1050, a California law that bans publishing advertisements with a synthetic performer unless a clear and conspicuous disclosure is provided. The law defines a synthetic performer as a digital figure, voice…
FTC · FTC Act Section 5
Low
Court ruling
Decided
United States (federal) · Oct 14, 2026
Court allows lawsuit against government surveillance program "Catch and Revoke" to proceed
A court issued a ruling permitting the EFF‑led lawsuit challenging the "Catch and Revoke" mass surveillance program to move forward. The program is alleged to use AI to suppress protected speech online. The decision is viewed as a win for…
