Earlier this week, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) that proposes to clarify existing definitions in the FCC’s foreign ownership rules and codify certain practices regarding the filing requirements for, and the agency’s processing of, foreign ownership petitions (Petitions for Declaratory Ruling, or “PDRs”). These changes generally seek to
House Releases Sweeping Oversight Agenda for 119th Congress: Major Focus Areas for Private Sector Entities
As we previewed in a prior alert, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee recently published a complete collection of oversight plans adopted by each authorizing committee of the House of Representatives for the current Congress. Taken together, these plans outline an expansive and aggressive agenda for congressional investigations over the next two years.
Ofcom publishes statement on the protection of children online
On 24 April 2025, Ofcom published a statement on the protection of children online (“Statement”). The Statement includes Ofcom’s final Children’s Risk Assessment Guidance (“Guidance”). Publication of the Guidance triggers the deadline for service providers regulated by the Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”) to complete their first “children’s risk assessment” (“CRA”)—specifically, 24 July 2025. The
Arkansas Governor Signs Baby FARA Law
Over the past several months, several states have introduced bills that mirror the federal Foreign Agents Registration Act (“FARA”). There has been a trend in the states to propose so-called “baby FARA” laws that apply to foreign-influenced political activity in the states, though the proposals vary in the scope of activities that are regulated. Last
Arkansas Advances Children and Teen Privacy Laws
On April 21, 2025, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed three laws expanding privacy protections for children and teens. The Content Creation Protection Act passed the legislature and is pending signature. This blog summarizes the statutes’ key takeaways.
FDA Requests Comments on Substantial Proposed Changes to Data Standards
FDA has issued two Federal Register notices in under two weeks that seek comments on updates to FDA data standards.
U.S. Tech Legislative & Regulatory Update – First Quarter 2025
This quarterly update highlights key legislative, regulatory, and litigation developments in the first quarter of 2025 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”), and cryptocurrencies and blockchain.
I. Artificial Intelligence
I. Federal Legislative Developments
In the first quarter, members of Congress introduced several AI bills addressing national security, including bills that would
Rearming Europe with Trusted Partners
In March 2025, the European Union published a white paper for European Defense Readiness 2030, which identifies defense needs and envisions a massive €800 billion four-year “ReArm Europe” investment plan. This initiative is a significant step change from the EU’s prior defense industrial strategy and earlier funding programs.
Rearming Europe would be financed
Montana Passes Amendments to Consumer Data Privacy Act
On April 15, 2025, the Montana legislature unanimously passed Montana SB 297, a bill that would amend the Montana Consumer Data Privacy Act (“MTCDPA”) with provisions expanding online data protections for minors, narrowing the exemptions under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and removing a controller’s right to cure, among others. We outline some key provisions below.
The Executive Order 11246 Grace Period Ends Today (April 21)
On January 21, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (“EO 14173”), which, among other things, revoked Executive Order 11246 (“EO 11246”), a 60-year-old Civil Rights-era directive that prohibited federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or