Policy & Regulation
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Italy's AGCM Opens First National DMA Probe Into Apple Over iCloud Backup Interoperability
Italy's competition authority launched its first DMA-powered probe on June 16, examining whether Apple blocks rival cloud services from offering full iPhone backups.
Fifth Circuit Lets Texas's App Store Age-Verification Law Take Effect, Staying a First Amendment Injunction
The Fifth Circuit stayed an injunction against Texas SB 2420, letting the App Store Accountability Act take effect June 4 as Apple rolled out age-assurance rules.
Commerce Department Issues Weekend Guidance Closing AI-Chip Loophole for Overseas Subsidiaries of Chinese Firms
BIS clarified on May 31 that advanced-computing export licenses are required for any entity whose ultimate parent is headquartered in Country Group D:5 or Macau, even when located outside.
Italy and Brazil Order Meta to Suspend Its WhatsApp AI-Chatbot Ban as Antitrust Pressure on the Policy Goes Global
Competition regulators in Italy and Brazil have ordered Meta to suspend its policy barring rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp, widening a fight that began in the EU.
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.