The Weekly Cut

On July 22, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopted a Third Report and Order and Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (covered separately here) in which the Commission advances its ongoing efforts to secure the U.S.

On September 10, 2026, Governor Newsom signed SB 1119, known as Adam’s Law, substantially expanding California’s requirements for companion chatbots when used by children.

On October 5, 2009, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published its revised Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Generative AI is transforming litigation defense by enabling in-house legal teams to manage costs and complexity more effectively across the entire case lifecycle. From early research and drafting through expert witness strategy and trial preparation, AI tools are helping defense teams work faster and more consistently. How are these technologies reshaping the way sophisticated counsel approaches multidistrict litigation, mass torts, and large-scale document management?

FEMA and the FCC will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System on November 17, 2026, requiring participation from all radio and television stations, cable systems, and satellite services. EAS Participants must file three separate forms through the EAS Test Reporting System, with specific deadlines ranging from October 30, 2026, through January 2027. Certain translator and repeater stations are exempt from the registration and filing requirements.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a preliminary injunction against Perplexity AI, determining that when an AI agent acts at a user's direction, it is the user—not the AI company—who "accesses" computer systems under federal and California computer fraud statutes. This landmark appellate decision addresses how existing computer-access laws apply to agentic artificial intelligence and has significant implications...

This month’s headline FTC action was the announcement that the FTC and 22 states sued Amazon over deceptive advertising practices. But the FTC has also kept its sights trained on protecting cash-strapped consumers. The FTC announced settlements involving empty credit-repair promises, bill payment platforms masquerading as official payment channels, and tacked-on fees at used car dealerships.

2025 appears to have signalled a return to growth for the games industry with headline figures painting an appealing picture which obscures a more challenging reality. Many in the sector continue to struggle, while a number of outperformers have been the real winners. The industry is undergoing change and may look quite different in the next five years.  

Texas Senate Bill 140 (SB 140) took effect 1 September 2025, and applies to conduct occurring on or after that date. The bill amended Section 302 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code to extend registration and disclosure requirements to text messages by expanding the definition of “Telephone solicitation,” which previously applied only to a “telephone call,” to include certain transmissions of text or graphic messages and images. In addition, SB 140 added a definition of “Telephone call” that incorporates the definition found in Section 304, which includes certain text or graphic messages and images, but excludes certain agreed-to transmissions.

On September 16, 2026, Governor Gavin Newsom ceremoniously signed SB 1050 at SAG-AFTRA’s headquarters in Los Angeles, adding a new article to California’s Business and Professions Code that targets the use of AI-generated “synthetic performers” in advertising.

As in 2025, the first few months of 2026 have seen fashion and retail companies operating in an environment where legal developments increasingly shape day-to-day business decisions...

In a Public Notice released today, the FCC announced that its "Connected Care Pilot Program" (Pilot Program) application filing window will open on Friday, November 6.

On April 2, President Trump signed a new Proclamation titled "Strengthening Actions Taken to Adjust Imports of Aluminum, Steel, and Copper Into the United States," which fundamentally restructures...

Advertising regulation continues to evolve through a steady accumulation of federal rulemaking, state legislation, and active enforcement under longstanding deception principles.

Last week, Macy’s and Foot Locker became the latest retailers to be forced to defend allegations that they illegally collect personal information from California shoppers.

As we approach the close of the first quarter of 2026, our Labor, Employment & OSHA team highlights some of the leading legal developments and issues that employers face, including the reshaping of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)...

The Pennsylvania State University will pay $1.25 million to settle allegations that it violated the FCA by failing to comply with contractual obligations to implement cybersecurity controls in 15 contracts.

The federal government is reshaping the rules for how data centers obtain power. In the past four months, the White House, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)...

2025 was one of the most active years in recent memory for US state-level privacy enforcement. California and Texas led the way, and we anticipate Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and New Jersey to emerge as active enforcers in 2026.

The FTC recently won a significant victory in federal court in its ongoing efforts to hold businesses accountable for their data security practices.