On April 15, 2026, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) published draft Guidelines 1/2026 on the processing of personal data for scientific research purposes (Guidelines). The Guidelines are open for public consultation until 25 June 2026. They aim to clarify how the GDPR applies to academic, public‑sector, and commercial research, including research that relies on
Covington & Burling LLP Blogs
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The Next Frontier of Supply Chain Security: Congress Trains Its Sights on Robotics
In introducing the American Security Robotics Act of 2026, Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have extended a now familiar congressional playbook into a new and consequential domain: robotics. The bill would prohibit executive agencies from procuring or operating unmanned ground vehicle systems (UGVs) manufactured or assembled by “covered foreign entities,” a…
UK Financial Services Regulators’ Approach to Artificial Intelligence in 2026
Artificial intelligence (“AI”) continues to reshape the UK financial services landscape in 2026, with consumers increasingly relying on AI-driven tools for financial guidance and firms deploying more autonomous systems across their businesses.
The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”) and Bank of England (“BoE”) (together “the Regulators”) have consistently signalled that AI will…
U.S. Tech Legislative & Regulatory Update – First Quarter 2026
This update highlights key legislative and regulatory developments in the first quarter of 2026 related to artificial intelligence (“AI”), connected and automated vehicles (“CAVs”), and Internet of Things (“IoT”).
I. Federal AI Legislative Developments
In the first quarter, members of Congress introduced several AI bills related to nonconsensual images, chatbots, support for small businesses, and…
Colorado Officials Push to Repeal and Replace the Colorado AI Act
On March 17, Colorado Governor Jared Polis released a draft bill that would substantially overhaul the Colorado AI Act, replacing its core requirements with a narrower regime focused on disclosure, recordkeeping, and consumer notice requirements for “automated decision-making technology” (“ADMT”). The proposal, which is still in draft form and not yet introduced in the…
Ofcom and ICO Issue Joint Statement on Age Assurance
On March 25, 2026, the UK’s Office of Communications (“Ofcom”) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) published a joint statement setting out their common expectations for age assurance on online services (“Joint Statement”). The Joint Statement is aimed at services likely to be accessed by children that fall within the scope of the Online Safety…
State Lawmakers Introduce New Wave of Personalized Algorithmic Pricing Bills
U.S. state lawmakers have introduced more than 40 bills across at least 24 states to regulate personalized algorithmic pricing in 2026 thus far, already outpacing the number of personalized algorithmic pricing bills introduced in all of 2025. While their definitions and scope vary, the 2026 bills broadly refer to “personalized algorithmic” or “dynamic” pricing as…
White House, Blackburn Introduce Visions of Comprehensive Federal AI Policy
As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies continue to advance and states increasingly pass legislation to regulate AI development and use, Congress and the White House are proposing comprehensive nationwide laws.
New proposals from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) offer comprehensive approaches to centralizing AI regulation within…
DOE Announces a New Funding Opportunity under the Genesis Mission
On March 17, 2026, the Department of Energy (“DOE”) issued a Request for Application (“RFA”) under the Genesis Mission, a White House-led AI initiative announced in November 2025. The RFA, with $293.76 million in anticipated total funding, solicits project proposals for 21 areas ranging from advanced manufacturing and industrial productivity to energy and nuclear physics. …
MEPs Adopt Joint Position on Proposed Digital Omnibus on AI
On 18 March 2026, the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (“IMCO”) and the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (“LIBE”) adopted their joint negotiating position on the European Commission’s proposed Digital Omnibus on AI (which we previously analysed here). The position will now proceed to a plenary…