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
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Topic: privacy · clear
423 developments
Moderate Enforcement Filed Austria · May 13, 2020
noyb files GDPR complaint against Google over Android Advertising ID tracking
noyb filed a formal GDPR complaint against Google for tracking users via the Android Advertising ID without a valid legal basis. The complaint was submitted on behalf of an Austrian citizen to the Austrian Data Protection Authority. GDPR…
Austrian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Guidance Published Austria · Apr 21, 2020
First European Corona contact tracing app in Austria reviewed by noyb, epicenter.works and SBA Research
The Austrian Red Cross released a contact tracing app on March 25th, which uses a hybrid central‑server and local storage model. NGOs and security researchers reviewed the app and identified privacy weaknesses, recommending a switch to a…
Moderate Guidance Published European Union · Apr 9, 2020
noyb releases ad‑hoc guidance on GDPR compliance for COVID‑19 data processing
noyb published an ad‑hoc paper outlining how the GDPR permits processing personal data to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The paper cites Articles 6(1)(d) and 9(2)(i) as legal bases and stresses the need for privacy‑by‑design, data…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Guidance Published European Union · Apr 2, 2020
Noyb reports video conferencing tools' privacy policies fall short of GDPR obligations
The report examined the privacy policies of six video‑conferencing services (Zoom, Webex Meetings, Meeting, Skype, Teams, Wire) and found they lack clear GDPR information, such as basic rights and recipient details. An update on…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Announced Austria · Mar 31, 2020
Streaming services fail GDPR transparency requirements, report finds
A joint investigation by the Austrian Chamber of Labour and noyb evaluated eight streaming platforms against GDPR transparency obligations. The study found that most services provide insufficient information on data handling, retention…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Investigation Filed DE-HE · Mar 2, 2020
noyb files GDPR complaint against Amazon for lacking TLS email encryption
The privacy NGO noyb submitted a complaint to the Hessian Data Protection Authority alleging Amazon violates GDPR Article 32 by not using TLS encryption for emails. The complaint may also be handled by Luxembourg's DPA, which could impose…
Hessian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Court ruling Pending Austria · Feb 26, 2020
Vienna Regional Court closes oral hearing in GDPR case against Facebook, judgment pending
The Vienna Regional Court for Civil Matters (LGfZRS) ended a nine‑hour oral hearing in a data‑protection lawsuit against Facebook. The court will issue a written judgment in the coming months and the case is expected to be appealed to…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Interpretation Published European Union · Feb 26, 2020 · effective Feb 26, 2020
GDPRhub launches public wiki summarizing national GDPR decisions
A new public wiki, GDPRhub, provides searchable summaries of GDPR decisions by national DPAs and courts in English. The site aims to collect over 500 decisions by the end of 2020 and includes commentaries, DPA profiles, and jurisdictional…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Filed Norway (EEA) · Jan 14, 2020
Norwegian DPA receives GDPR complaints against Grindr and ad‑tech firms
The Norwegian Consumer Council, together with noyb, filed three formal GDPR complaints against Grindr and five ad‑tech companies (Twitter’s MoPub, AT&T’s AppNexus, OpenX, AdColony, Smaato) with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority. The…
Norwegian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Interpretation Published European Union · Dec 19, 2019
CJEU Advocate General opinion says DPAs must halt US data transfers when fundamental rights are breached
The Advocate General stated that Data Protection Authorities must stop data transfers if fundamental rights are violated. The opinion urges the Irish DPC to order Facebook to cease transfers and clarifies that SCCs contain a “pressure…
Court of Justice of the European Union · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Lawsuit filed Filed Ireland · Dec 18, 2019
Irish DPC files lawsuit against Facebook and Max Schrems over validity of SCCs
The Irish Data Protection Commissioner filed a lawsuit against Facebook and Max Schrems in the Irish High Court to refer the dispute on Standard Contractual Clauses to the CJEU. The case concerns whether SCCs can be used when US…
Irish Data Protection Commissioner · Standard Contractual Clauses
Low Lawsuit filed Pending Austria · Nov 12, 2019
Austrian court hears case accusing Facebook of processing data without consent under GDPR
In proceedings before the Vienna Regional Court, Facebook admitted to collecting and processing user data without consent since the GDPR took effect on May 25, 2018. The plaintiff argues that Facebook cannot rely on an alleged advertising…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Court ruling Announced Ireland · Sep 17, 2019
CJEU to hear Schrems‑Facebook case on EU‑US data transfers under SCCs and Privacy Shield
The Court of Justice of the European Union (Grand Chamber) will hear case C‑311/18 on July 9 2019 concerning EU‑US data transfers to Facebook under Standard Contractual Clauses and the Privacy Shield, focusing on US mass surveillance. The…
Irish Data Protection Commissioner · Standard Contractual Clauses
Low Court ruling Decided Austria · Jun 21, 2019
Austrian Supreme Court rejects Facebook's attempt to block GDPR model lawsuit
The Austrian Supreme Court dismissed all of Facebook's efforts to halt a model privacy lawsuit, confirming that any party may bring a claim under the GDPR. The court also ruled that national variations of the GDPR can no longer restrict…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Fine Announced France · Jun 21, 2019
CNIL fines Google €50 million for GDPR ‘forced consent’ violations
The French data protection authority (CNIL) announced a €50 million fine against Google for GDPR violations related to forced consent. The penalty stems from complaints filed by noyb.eu and La Quadrature du Net. The announcement was made…
CNIL · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Guidance Announced European Union · Jun 5, 2019
noyb and Access Now host workshop on GDPR enforcement actions in Vienna
The workshop “One year after GDPR: Advancing rights through effective enforcement actions” was held May 8‑10, 2019 in Vienna. It gathered NGOs, public authorities and researchers to discuss practical aspects of GDPR enforcement, noting…
EDPB · 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
Low Enforcement Filed Austria · Jan 18, 2019
noyb files GDPR right‑to‑access complaints against eight streaming services
noyb filed formal complaints with the Austrian Data Protection Authority on behalf of ten users, alleging violations of the GDPR right to access by eight major streaming platforms. The complaints claim that the services either failed to…
Austrian Data Protection Authority · General Data Protection Regulation
Low Enforcement Published Austria · Dec 10, 2018
Austrian DSB decision on DerStandard.at ‘pay or okay’ subscription model
The Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) ruled that DerStandard.at’s subscription option requiring users to pay €6 per month for privacy instead of giving free consent is not voluntary under the GDPR. The decision sparked criticism…
Austrian Data Protection Authority (DSB) · General Data Protection Regulation
Moderate Interpretation Published European Union · Dec 8, 2018
Noyb reports controllers limit GDPR rights to specific request formats
Noyb notes that many data controllers use automated systems that restrict how data subjects can exercise their GDPR rights, often limiting requests to specific formats that may not serve the data subject's interests. The organization…
EDPB · General Data Protection Regulation
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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
19
Spanish AEPD and Luxembourg CNPD sign MoU to strengthen privacy cooperation
European Union · 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
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