On May 8, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta — joined by the District Attorneys of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Napa, and Sonoma Counties, with support from the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) — announced a $12.75 million settlement with General Motors and OnStar (collectively, “GM”) over the alleged unlawful sale of California drivers’ geolocation
Continue Reading U.S.: California’s GM Settlement: Has Data Minimization Finally Arrived?
U.S.: Comprehensive Federal Privacy Legislation Introduced
The SECURE Data Act 2026 and GUARD Financial Data Act were introduced on April 22, 2026. This legislation would impose major data restrictions and requirements across the U.S. economy. The bill would give the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded powers to oversee data collection and use.
The SECURE Data
Continue Reading U.S.: Comprehensive Federal Privacy Legislation IntroducedU.S.: FTC Oversight Hearing
The Senate Commerce Committee held an oversight hearing of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on April 15, 2026, its first in six years. Chairman Andrew Ferguson testified that the FTC policy focus will be combating hidden fees and misleading pricing practices by avoiding misleading representations about pricing and clearly disclosing total cost up front.
The
Continue Reading U.S.: FTC Oversight HearingU.S.: Alabama Becomes 21st State to Enact Comprehensive Privacy Law
On April 7, 2026, the Alabama legislature unanimously passed House Bill 351, the Alabama Personal Data Protection Act. The bill cleared the House 104-0 and the Senate 34-0, making Alabama the 21st state to enact a comprehensive consumer privacy statute. If signed by Governor Kay Ivey, the law will take effect on May 1
Continue Reading U.S.: Alabama Becomes 21st State to Enact Comprehensive Privacy LawU.S.: Seventh Circuit Holds BIPA’s 2024 Damages Amendment Applies Retroactively
In 2024, the Illinois General Assembly amended the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) to clarify that an individual cannot seek recovery for multiple alleged violations of BIPA when those violations concern the same person, defendant entity, and method of collection.
On April 1, 2026, the Seventh Circuit issued its decision in Clay v. Union
Continue Reading U.S.: Seventh Circuit Holds BIPA’s 2024 Damages Amendment Applies RetroactivelyU.S.: The Ninth Circuit’s Latest CAADCA Ruling: Navigating an Evolving Compliance Landscape
California’s Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA) remains at the center of one of the most significant legal battles in children’s privacy law. On March 12, 2026, the Ninth Circuit issued its latest decision in NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta, partially affirming and partially vacating the district court’s preliminary injunction that had blocked the law’s enforcement.
Continue Reading U.S.: The Ninth Circuit’s Latest CAADCA Ruling: Navigating an Evolving Compliance Landscape
U.S.: CalPrivacy Continues Enforcement Momentum: Settlement Over Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing Violations
On March 5, 2026, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy or the Agency) announced a $375,703 settlement with Ford Motor Company (Ford), stemming from its long-running investigation into the privacy practices of connected vehicle manufacturers, an inquiry the Agency has been pursuing since 2023.
The Ford matter was announced just days after CalPrivacy’s settlement with
Continue Reading U.S.: CalPrivacy Continues Enforcement Momentum: Settlement Over Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing Violations
U.S. Privacy Laws Legislative Update
After a legislative lull last year, 2026 has brought a new wave of state privacy lawmaking activity.
A number of states have introduced comprehensive state privacy bills during the legislative cycle, reflecting a continued trend toward expanding individual privacy rights and creating new compliance obligations on businesses that collect and process personal data.
While many
Continue Reading U.S. Privacy Laws Legislative Update
U.S.: California’s PlayOn Enforcement: A New Chapter in Children’s Data Privacy
On March 3, 2026, the California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) announced a settlement with PlayOn Sports (formerly 2080 Media, Inc.), imposing a $1.1 million administrative fine and sweeping compliance obligations. Reached in January, the settlement marks a significant escalation in state privacy enforcement and is the first CalPrivacy action to address privacy violations involving students
Continue Reading U.S.: California’s PlayOn Enforcement: A New Chapter in Children’s Data Privacy
U.S.: Ninth Circuit Expands Personal Jurisdiction Over Foreign Tech Platforms in Data Breach Cases
On March 2, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a significant decision, in Freeman v. 3Commas Technologies OÜ, reversing a district court’s dismissal of a class action against an Estonian software company for lack of personal jurisdiction.[1] The ruling provides valuable guidance on when foreign technology companies can
Continue Reading U.S.: Ninth Circuit Expands Personal Jurisdiction Over Foreign Tech Platforms in Data Breach Cases