On May 14, 2025, Covington convened experts across our practice groups for the Fourth Annual Covington Robotics Forum to explore the legal and regulatory risks and opportunities impacting robotics, AI, and connected devices. Eight Covington attorneys discussed global forecasts relevant to these spaces in a highly concentrated 90-minute session, culminating in an Industry Spotlight moderated
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Energy and Commerce Committee Votes on GOP House Spectrum Plan
On May 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee (“E&C Committee”) voted on its portion of the budget reconciliation package which includes a major proposal to identify new radio spectrum bands for auction and to restore the FCC’s long-lapsed spectrum auction authority. The budget reconciliation proposal directs the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and…
AI Content Detection Company Settles FTC Allegations of Misrepresentations
Late last month, the Federal Trade Center (“FTC”) announced that it reached a settlement with a company called Workado to resolve allegations that it made false or misleading representations about the efficacy of its “AI Content Detector” product in violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act.
According to the FTC’s complaint, Workado advertised…
FCC Proposes Changes to Foreign Ownership Rules and Related Filings Processes
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…
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…
EU’s Community of Practice Publishes Updated AI Model Contractual Clauses
The “market” for AI contracting terms continues to evolve, and whilst there is no standardised approach (as much will depend on the use cases, technical features and commercial terms), a number of attempts have been made to put forward contracting models. One of the latest being from the EU’s Community of Practice on Public Procurement…
Agencies Deliver America First Trade Policy Recommendations to White House
Today the White House released an executive summary of the policy reviews President Trump ordered in his America First Trade Policy (AFTP) memorandum, issued on January 20. Although the full report to the President is nonpublic, according to the executive summary it contains twenty-four chapters, organized into three main pillars: (1) Addressing Unfair and…
Brazil’s Internet of Things Tax Relief Due to Expire in 2025
Four Internet of Things (IoT) related tax relief provisions are due to expire on December 31, 2025. Two bills were introduced in Brazil’s National Congress to extend these provisions and are currently in debate under a fast-track rule. Companies that provide and implement IoT projects can engage congressional leaders to secure the bills’ approval.
Tax…
Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Holds Hearing on the “Censorship Industrial Complex”
On March 24, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution held a hearing on the “Censorship Industrial Complex,” where senators and witnesses expressed divergent views on risks to First Amendment rights. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO), the Subcommittee Chair, began the hearing by warning that the “vast censorship enterprise that the Biden Administration built” has expanded…
Senate Commerce Committee Questions Trump Tech Nominees
On March 12, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation advanced two nominations key to the Trump Administration’s technology policy: Mark Meador as a Commissioner for the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), and Michael Kratsios as Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (“OSTP”). Both nominees previously had their nomination…