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
159
Last 30 days
24
High or critical
30
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
Topic: ai governance · clear
87 developments
Moderate Proposed bill Introduced United States (federal) · Oct 7, 2026
Sen. Gillibrand reintroduces Data Protection Act to create U.S. Data Protection Agency
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D‑NY) has reintroduced the Data Protection Act, which would establish an independent federal Data Protection Agency. The bill aims to limit collection, use and sharing of personal data, oversee high‑risk…
Low Proposed bill Proposed New York · Oct 7, 2026
EPIC urges NYC Council to adopt AI liability bills Intro 2599 and 2600
EPIC counsel testified before the New York City Council, supporting Intro 2599, which would treat AI chatbots as products with developer liability, and Intro 2600, which would create a private right of action for foreseeable AI harms. The…
People-First Chatbot Bill
Moderate Guidance Announced United States (federal) · Oct 7, 2026
FTC announces new study on personalized pricing under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson announced plans for a study examining personalized pricing practices. The study will be conducted under the authority of Section 6(b) of the FTC Act.
Federal Trade Commission · FTC Act Section 5
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
Moderate New law Signed California · Oct 6, 2026
California signs law banning AI tools that assess employee emotions or collect neural data
On September 30, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation that prohibits employers from using AI-powered workplace surveillance to evaluate employees' emotional states or gather neural data. The law creates new restrictions on…
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
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
← NewerOlder →
Coming up
Oct 2026
19
FCC proposes to modify system of records for National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
United States (federal) · effective
Oct 2026
19
FCC modifies Lifeline Program system of records (FCC/WCB-1) under the Privacy Act
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
Oct 2026
29
Italian Garante's tracking-pixel guidelines become effective Oct 29, 2026
Italy · effective
Oct 2026
29
Italian Garante's tracking-pixel guidelines become effective Oct 29, 2026
Italy · compliance deadline
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
Nov 2026
24
Farm Credit Administration amends employee payroll system of records under Privacy Act, effective Nov 24, 2026
United States (federal) · effective
Dec 2026
20
AEPD launches call for articles for third issue of Revista PIT on GDPR and emerging regulations
Spain · compliance deadline
By jurisdiction
United States (federal)67 new · 16 laws European Union23 new · 14 laws California14 new · 5 laws France14 new · 0 laws New York9 new · 2 laws Italy6 new · 0 laws Spain5 new · 0 laws Global3 new · 0 laws Texas2 new · 3 laws Vermont2 new · 2 laws EU-GB2 new · 0 laws Ireland2 new · 0 laws
All jurisdictions →
Topics this month
privacy · 113security · 67ai governance · 53transparency · 34data minimization · 31children · 28profiling · 27automated decision making · 26consent · 21targeted advertising · 19access · 17data governance · 16