High
Interpretation
Published
European Union · Sep 28, 2026
Commission designates ChatGPT, Reddit, Roblox as VLOPs/VLOSE under the Digital Services Act
The European Commission has designated ChatGPT as a Very Large Online Search Engine and Reddit and Roblox as Very Large Online Platforms under the DSA, citing each service’s reach of at least 45 million EU monthly users. The designated…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
High
Final regulation
In effect
United States (federal) · Sep 28, 2026 · effective Oct 28, 2026
HHS modifies ORR Unaccompanied Children system of records, effective Oct 28, 2026
The Department of Health and Human Services is amending the Office of Refugee Resettlement's system of records for unaccompanied children. The change renames the system to "ORR Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau (UACB) Administrative…
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
Guidance
Published
United States (federal) · Sep 25, 2026
DoD updates SORN for DON Child and Youth Program to align with cybersecurity policies
The Department of Defense is modifying and reissuing the system of records titled "DON Child and Youth Program" (NM01754-3) under the Privacy Act of 1974. The updates incorporate DoD standard routine uses A through J, expand the collection…
Department of Defense · Privacy Act of 1974
Moderate
New law
Signed
California · Sep 23, 2026
California SB 1119 signed into law regulating AI chatbots for minors
The Future of Privacy Forum report notes that California’s SB 1119 was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom. The law targets chatbot interactions with minors, requiring disclosures, crisis‑response protocols, age assurance, parental…
SB 1119
Low
Proposed regulation
Proposed
European Union · Sep 23, 2026
European Commission proposes EU KIDS Act to strengthen online child protections
On September 17, 2026, the European Commission published a proposal for the EU KIDS Act. The draft legislation aims to enhance protections for children using online services. It is part of the Commission's broader effort to safeguard…
European Commission · EU KIDS Act
Moderate
Guidance
Published
European Union · Sep 23, 2026
EU Commission hosts fifth roundtable on Digital Services Act implementation
On 23 September 2026 the European Commission held an online roundtable with about 60 civil society organisations and researchers to discuss the implementation of the Digital Services Act. The discussion focused on systemic risks…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
Low
Guidance
Announced
Global · Sep 22, 2026
Future of Privacy Forum opens nominations for 17th Annual Privacy Papers for Policymakers Awards
The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) announced that submissions for the 17th Privacy Papers for Policymakers Award are open until October 16, 2026. The award seeks privacy, AI‑governance, and youth‑online research that emphasizes data…
Moderate
Proposed regulation
Proposed
European Union · Sep 21, 2026
EU Commission proposes KIDS Act to impose age‑based restrictions and safety‑by‑design for children online
On September 17, 2026 the European Commission published a proposal for a new EU KIDS Act that would ban users under 15 from creating accounts on certain social networking and video‑sharing services, with limited exceptions. The draft…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
Low
Proposed bill
Announced
California · Sep 17, 2026
California SB 976 restricts teen social media feed recommendations, challenged as unconstitutional
California enacted SB 976, which requires parental permission before teens can view recommended content from other users on social media. The law is being challenged in Meta v. Bonta on First Amendment grounds. EFF argues the law also…
SB 976
Low
Settlement
Settled
United States (federal) · Sep 16, 2026
Meta settles lawsuit with 52 US states imposing age‑gating and time limits on under‑18 users
Meta settled a lawsuit with 52 states and territories that will require age‑gating, a two‑hour daily usage limit, and content restrictions for users under 18. The agreement also pressures other platforms such as TikTok and YouTube to adopt…
Moderate
Proposed bill
Announced
European Union · Sep 14, 2026
EU Commission to propose EU-wide minimum age for social media, linked to Digital Fairness Act
The European Commission will release a legislative proposal by the end of 2026 establishing an EU-wide minimum age for social media, building on the Special Panel's age‑tiered framework. The proposal may be incorporated into the Digital…
European Commission · Digital Services Act
Moderate
New law
Signed
California · Sep 10, 2026
California AB 1709, a ban on social media for under‑16, signed into law
AB 1709 was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The law imposes a functional ban on social media use for people under the age of 16 and requires age‑verification. Critics say the ban will increase data collection and limit free…
AB 1709
Moderate
Guidance
Published
France · Sep 10, 2026
CNIL releases Volume 2 of “L’Agence Privacy” to educate adolescents on cybercrime and data privacy
On 10 September 2026 the French data‑protection authority CNIL published the second volume of its educational comic series “L’Agence Privacy”. The free online and paper resource targets teenagers and parents, covering risks such as…
CNIL
Moderate
Settlement
Announced
United States (federal) · Sep 1, 2026
Meta to implement age‑verification framework under $17 B settlement with 52 U.S. states
Meta has agreed to a $17 billion settlement with 52 state attorneys general that mandates age‑assurance technology for its platforms. The settlement requires Meta to apply age‑verification methods within one year, classify users into 18+…
state attorneys general · Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Moderate
Proposed bill
Passed one chamber
California · Aug 31, 2026
California Assembly Bill 1709 passed, bans social media recommendation features for users under 16
The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 1709, which would prohibit platforms from providing recommendation algorithms and related features to users under 16. The bill would require age‑verification methods that could involve…
AB 1709
Moderate
Guidance
Published
United States (federal) · Aug 31, 2026
EFF guide on doxxing incident response and digital footprint protection
The Electronic Frontier Foundation published a guide outlining steps for individuals and groups to respond to doxxing attacks. It covers incident logging, team role assignment, monitoring hate forums, setting up alerts, hardening accounts…
California Delete Act
Low
Guidance
Published
Global · Aug 31, 2026
EFF and The Trevor Project advise LGBTQ+ individuals to revise shared information for online safety
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and The Trevor Project provide practical steps for LGBTQ+ people to protect their personal information online. Advice includes limiting disclosure of identifying details, using avatars, disabling EXIF…
Moderate
Settlement
Settled
United States (federal) · Aug 26, 2026
EFF says Meta settlement expands data collection and limits youth rights
The settlement reduces young users' access to Meta products and limits their ability to exercise free expression and community participation. It requires age assurance on every product, leading to the collection of additional personal…
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…
Low
Enforcement
Announced
EU-GB · Aug 21, 2026
EFF and civil groups urge Nottinghamshire Police to halt live facial recognition rollout
The Electronic Frontier Foundation and several civil‑society organisations wrote to Nottinghamshire Police in the UK demanding an immediate stop to the proposed roll‑out of live facial recognition (LFR). The letter cites concerns about…
