Policy & Regulation
123 articles RSS
EU Prepares Record DMA Fine Against Google Over Search Self-Preferencing, Testing US-EU Trade Truce
The European Commission is finalizing a high triple-digit million euro fine — the largest ever under the Digital Markets Act — against Google for promoting its own Shopping, Flights, and Hotels services in search results.
EU Seals Digital Omnibus Deal on AI Act, Pushing High-Risk Deadlines to 2027 and Banning Nudifier Apps
The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on May 7 to simplify the AI Act, shifting key compliance deadlines and adding a new ban on nonconsensual intimate imagery.
Police License Plate Networks Used for School Enrollment Checks, Background Investigations, and Noise Complaints, EFF Finds
An EFF analysis of millions of Flock Safety ALPR searches reveals law enforcement using crime-fighting surveillance tools for school residency fraud checks, employment background investigations, and noise complaints — with no warrant required.
Supreme Court Denies Apple Stay in Epic Contempt Case, Setting Up June 25 Decision on Cert Petition
Justice Kagan rejected Apple's emergency stay request in under an hour on May 6, and Apple has now formally petitioned the Supreme Court to review the contempt finding and injunction scope.
Google Files 111-Page DC Circuit Brief Challenging Search Monopoly Conviction and Remedies Order
Google's appellate brief, filed May 22, contests both the 2024 monopoly finding and a remedies order requiring data-sharing with rivals including OpenAI.
FTC Fines Cox Media Group $880,000 for Selling Fake AI Eavesdropping Ad Service That Was Just Resold Email Lists
The FTC settled for $930,000 total after CMG and two partners falsely claimed their 'Active Listening' service captured real-time smart-device voice data to deliver hyper-local ads — it was actually resold email lists.
Senate Judiciary Committee Unanimously Advances GUARD Act to Ban AI Companion Chatbots for Minors
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 22-0 to advance the GUARD Act, which would ban AI companion chatbots for users under 18 and impose penalties of up to $250,000 per violation.
EU Charges Meta Under Digital Services Act for Failing to Block Under-13 Users From Instagram and Facebook
The European Commission issued preliminary findings on April 29 that Meta violated the DSA by allowing children under 13 to create accounts using false birth dates, with potential fines reaching 6% of its global turnover.
Five Publishers and Scott Turow Sue Meta and Zuckerberg Over Llama Training on Pirated Books
Elsevier, Hachette, and three other major publishers filed a class action in New York alleging Meta torrented pirated books to train Llama, with Zuckerberg personally approving the strategy.
GLAAD's Sixth Annual Social Media Safety Index Finds Historic Low Scores as Meta, X, and YouTube Roll Back LGBTQ+ Protections
GLAAD's 2026 index scores six major platforms on LGBTQ+ safety: TikTok leads at 56, while X scores 29 and YouTube drops 11 points after removing gender identity from hate speech protections.
FTC Begins Enforcing the TAKE IT DOWN Act One Year After Enactment, Warning 15 Platforms to Build Intimate-Image Removal Systems or Face $53,088-Per-Violation Fines
The FTC launched enforcement of the TAKE IT DOWN Act on May 19, sending warning letters to fifteen platforms — including Snapchat, TikTok, Meta, and X — that have not yet built compliant removal processes for nonconsensual intimate images and AI deepfakes.
Senators Demand DHS Abandon Plan to Equip ICE Agents With Biometric Smart Glasses
Democratic senators led by Markey and Merkley warn a $7.5M DHS smart glasses proposal would let ICE agents covertly identify people in public using facial recognition.