Policy & Regulation
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FTC Finalizes Rollins Noncompete Order Covering 18,000 Pest-Control Workers, Cementing Its Case-by-Case Enforcement Turn
The FTC finalized a consent order barring Rollins from enforcing noncompetes against more than 18,000 workers, marking its post-rule enforcement pivot.
Tech Industry and Texas Students Ask Supreme Court to Block Texas App Store Age-Verification Law as Alito Sets June 22 Deadline
CCIA and the SEAT student group asked the Supreme Court to vacate the Fifth Circuit stay that let Texas SB 2420 take effect; Justice Alito gave Texas until June 22 to respond.
EU Picks Italian-Led EUROPA Consortium to Build an Open-Source Frontier AI Model in All 24 EU Languages
The European Commission named EUROPA, led by Italy's Domyn, winner of its Frontier AI Grand Challenge to build an open model above 400 billion parameters.
Italy's AGCM Opens First National DMA Probe Into Apple Over iCloud Backup Interoperability
Italy's competition authority launched its first DMA-powered probe on June 16, examining whether Apple blocks rival cloud services from offering full iPhone backups.
Fifth Circuit Lets Texas's App Store Age-Verification Law Take Effect, Staying a First Amendment Injunction
The Fifth Circuit stayed an injunction against Texas SB 2420, letting the App Store Accountability Act take effect June 4 as Apple rolled out age-assurance rules.
Commerce Department Issues Weekend Guidance Closing AI-Chip Loophole for Overseas Subsidiaries of Chinese Firms
BIS clarified on May 31 that advanced-computing export licenses are required for any entity whose ultimate parent is headquartered in Country Group D:5 or Macau, even when located outside.
Italy and Brazil Order Meta to Suspend Its WhatsApp AI-Chatbot Ban as Antitrust Pressure on the Policy Goes Global
Competition regulators in Italy and Brazil have ordered Meta to suspend its policy barring rival AI chatbots from WhatsApp, widening a fight that began in the EU.
EU Prepares Record DMA Fine Against Google Over Search Self-Preferencing, Testing US-EU Trade Truce
The European Commission is finalizing a high triple-digit million euro fine — the largest ever under the Digital Markets Act — against Google for promoting its own Shopping, Flights, and Hotels services in search results.
EU Seals Digital Omnibus Deal on AI Act, Pushing High-Risk Deadlines to 2027 and Banning Nudifier Apps
The European Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on May 7 to simplify the AI Act, shifting key compliance deadlines and adding a new ban on nonconsensual intimate imagery.
Police License Plate Networks Used for School Enrollment Checks, Background Investigations, and Noise Complaints, EFF Finds
An EFF analysis of millions of Flock Safety ALPR searches reveals law enforcement using crime-fighting surveillance tools for school residency fraud checks, employment background investigations, and noise complaints — with no warrant required.
Supreme Court Denies Apple Stay in Epic Contempt Case, Setting Up June 25 Decision on Cert Petition
Justice Kagan rejected Apple's emergency stay request in under an hour on May 6, and Apple has now formally petitioned the Supreme Court to review the contempt finding and injunction scope.
Google Files 111-Page DC Circuit Brief Challenging Search Monopoly Conviction and Remedies Order
Google's appellate brief, filed May 22, contests both the 2024 monopoly finding and a remedies order requiring data-sharing with rivals including OpenAI.