Online Safety

Minnesota Department of Health Issues Social Media Mental Health Warning Label Guidelines

Minnesota’s Department of Health has issued state-mandated guidelines detailing the mental health warning label text social media platforms must show users, supporting a new statutory duty effective July 2026. This cements Minnesota’s online safety regime and means affected platforms must design conspicuous in-app warnings with 988 crisis support details and implement them ahead of the July 2026 requirement.

15 May 2026, 09:12lrl.mn.govUnited States

EU Parliamentary Question on Digital Services Act Compliance of Meta and Google Ads for Dangerous Nutraceuticals

On 6 May 2026, an MEP submitted a priority written question asking the European Commission to investigate whether Meta and Google’s advertising of unregulated, potentially dangerous nutraceutical products breaches the EU Digital Services Act. This signals rising pressure to use the DSA’s platform obligations to police health-related advertising, which could tighten compliance expectations for online platforms and sellers of nutraceutical and similar products across the EU.

9 May 2026, 07:17europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Recommends EU Age Verification Framework With Member State Roll-Out by End 2026

The European Commission has issued a non-binding Recommendation setting out a common EU framework for privacy-preserving age verification technologies and urging all Member States to deploy at least one EU age verification solution, linked to European Digital Identity Wallets, by the end of 2026. This points to a coming EU-wide expectation that online platforms and providers of age-restricted products and services will support harmonised, standards-based digital age checks aligned with the Digital Services Act, raising future compliance and IT-integration requirements even before binding rules are adopted.

8 May 2026, 19:01data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Question on Security of EU Age Verification App

In April 2026, several MEPs challenged the security and GDPR compliance of the Commission’s EU age verification app, citing alleged PIN bypasses, disabling of biometrics, and unencrypted storage of facial images on user devices. Their written question increases pressure on the Commission to strengthen security assurance and independent auditing of the app before broad deployment, which could influence future EU expectations for privacy-preserving online age verification.

5 May 2026, 07:23europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Publishes Agenda for 28 April 2026 Meeting Highlighting Better Regulation and Age Verification Initiatives

The European Commission’s 2564th meeting agenda for 28 April 2026 confirms plans to adopt a cross-cutting Communication on a “Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook” alongside a Recommendation establishing a common framework for EU-wide age verification technologies. These initiatives signal tighter, more coherent EU rulemaking and enforcement, and emerging EU-level expectations for digital age verification that compliance, legal, and product teams will need to track as the final texts and implementation guidance are published.

1 May 2026, 18:29ec.europa.euEuropean Union

New York Assembly Bill A11144 Would Ban Chatbot Toys and Require Risk Study

In April 2026, New York Assembly Bill A11144 was introduced to ban the manufacture, distribution, and sale of AI-powered chatbot toys for children and to mandate a multi-agency study of their risks and benefits over a five-year period. If enacted, this would force toy and technology companies serving the New York market to reassess AI-enabled children’s products, data practices, and monetisation models, and could set an influential precedent for broader digital child-safety regulation in other jurisdictions.

29 Apr 2026, 18:22assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

U.S. House Bill H.R. 8382 Proposes Ban on AI Chatbots in Children's Toys and Child Care Articles

In April 2026, a U.S. House bill (H.R. 8382) was introduced to ban the manufacture, import, and sale of children’s toys and child care articles that incorporate AI chatbots, enforceable through the existing consumer product safety regime after a 180-day transition. If enacted, this would effectively eliminate AI-powered conversational features from regulated children’s products in the U.S., forcing manufacturers and retailers to review product portfolios, redesign smart toys, and rethink digital engagement strategies for under-13 users.

28 Apr 2026, 11:52govinfo.govUnited States

US House Bill Proposes Ban on AI Chatbots in Children’s Toys and Child Care Articles

US lawmakers have introduced H.R. 8382, which would ban the manufacture, import, and sale of children’s toys and child care articles that incorporate AI chatbots, enforceable under existing Consumer Product Safety Act provisions once enacted. If progressed, this proposal would force consumer goods and electronics manufacturers to reassess any AI-enabled children’s products, with only a 180-day transition after enactment before affected items could no longer be placed on the US market.

25 Apr 2026, 10:50congress.govUnited States

CJEU Judgment C‑769/22: Hungary’s Child‑Protection Content Law Breaches EU Law and Fundamental Rights

In April 2026, the EU Court of Justice ruled that Hungary’s 2021 “child-protection” law restricting minors’ access to LGBTQ+-related content and broadening access to sex-offender registers breaches multiple EU directives, the GDPR, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. This judgment significantly tightens EU-wide limits on national content and data rules, signalling that future restrictions on online services, media, advertising, education and criminal-records access must avoid discrimination and respect fundamental rights, reshaping compliance and litigation risk for operations and campaigns in Hungary and potentially other Member States.

25 Apr 2026, 10:47eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionHungary

EU and Australia Announce Trade Deal, Security Partnership and Critical Minerals Collaboration

In an April 2026 address to the Australian Parliament, the European Commission President announced that the EU and Australia have concluded a trade deal, signed a security partnership, and advanced a critical minerals collaboration with decarbonisation at the core. These agreements signal deeper EU-Australia alignment on energy resilience, supply-chain security, climate policy, and online safety, creating a more predictable framework for future trade, investment, and regulatory cooperation.

19 Apr 2026, 16:42ec.europa.euEuropean UnionAustralia

New Jersey Bill S4019 Would Ban Targeted Social Media Ads for Vapor Products Aimed at Under-21s

New Jersey has introduced Senate Bill S4019 to make targeted social media advertising of vapor products to individuals under 21 an unlawful practice, backed by civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation. If enacted, this would significantly increase compliance and enforcement risk for vaping brands, retailers, and platforms running social media campaigns in New Jersey, likely requiring rapid changes to youth-targeting, audience tools, and ad content.

15 Apr 2026, 15:17pub.njleg.govUnited States

EU Parliament Adopts Position Proposing Delayed Artificial Intelligence Act Application and Ban on Nudifier Apps

The European Parliament has adopted its position on the Digital Omnibus on AI, proposing staggered compliance deadlines through 2028 and a ban on non-consensual AI image generation. Manufacturers of AI-integrated products must prepare for phased enforcement that aligns AI Act obligations with existing sectoral safety frameworks for medical devices, toys, and radio equipment.

28 Mar 2026, 16:02europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Germany Justice Minister Signals Youth Social Media Protections, Anti-Greenwashing Rules and Right to Repair

Germany has signaled legislative priorities for stricter anti-greenwashing enforcement, a mandatory right to repair for electronics, and enhanced digital protections for minors. Companies should anticipate more rigorous substantiation requirements for environmental claims and mandatory serviceability obligations for consumer hardware and digital platforms.

27 Mar 2026, 18:31bundesregierung.deGermany

Minnesota Legislature Proposes Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (HF 4511)

Minnesota introduced legislation in early 2026 to mandate safety-by-design and strict data privacy standards for online products likely to be accessed by minors. Impacted firms must prioritize child well-being over commercial interests and prepare for mandatory impact assessments to mitigate substantial per-child civil penalties.

26 Mar 2026, 19:06revisor.mn.govUnited States

New York Assembly Proposes Consumer Camera Privacy Act for Networked Camera Devices (Bill A10687)

New York has introduced legislation to strictly regulate networked camera devices, mandating explicit opt-ins for surveillance features and imposing tight data retention limits. Manufacturers must prepare for significant product design and data governance shifts, including mandatory point-of-sale disclosures and increased litigation risk from a private right of action.

26 Mar 2026, 12:18assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

Global CBPR Forum Updates Cross-Border Privacy Program Requirements From April 2027

The Global CBPR Forum has expanded its certification criteria from 50 to 57 requirements, becoming mandatory for all new and renewing participants starting April 1, 2027. Organizations must strengthen data governance to meet stricter mandates on sensitive data handling and mandatory breach notifications to maintain compliant international data transfers.

26 Mar 2026, 11:33globalcbpr.orgJapanGlobal

New York Senate Bill S9508: Security Features And Warning Labels For Internet-Connected Baby Monitors

New York has proposed legislation requiring internet-connected baby monitors to incorporate mandatory cybersecurity features and specific risk-warning labels. Manufacturers must integrate security-by-design and prescriptive packaging disclosures to mitigate unauthorized access risks and maintain compliance in the New York market.

20 Mar 2026, 16:48nysenate.govUnited States

EU Parliament Committees Back Digital Omnibus Amendments To AI Act

EU Parliament committees have endorsed delaying compliance deadlines for high-risk AI systems under the AI Act until late 2027 and 2028. This extension provides essential lead time for technical compliance while new prohibitions and watermarking requirements indicate a shift toward stricter oversight of specific AI applications.

20 Mar 2026, 13:35europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Agrees Position on Digital Omnibus to Streamline AI Rules

The EU Council has reached a consensus on the Digital Omnibus proposal, establishing fixed compliance deadlines for high-risk AI systems through 2028. This agreement provides essential timeline certainty for manufacturers while reinforcing registration and data processing standards for systems seeking high-risk exemptions.

14 Mar 2026, 08:31consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

European Parliament Publishes Roll-Call Results For 11 March 2026 Plenary Session

The European Parliament approved the extension of ePrivacy derogations and advanced key files on AI, gender equality, and the single market during its March 2026 plenary session. These votes signal a continued tightening of EU digital governance and social reporting requirements, requiring businesses to align with evolving standards for data privacy and workplace equity.

13 Mar 2026, 06:25europarl.europa.euEuropean Union