Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

Character.AI bankruptcy showcases high stakes of competition in AI markets

Heineken to pay €111m to Greek rival after Dutch court rethinks interest

US DOJ clarifies basis for forced labor tariffs

US hits the brakes on Russia sanctions law, waiving tariffs, enforcement

Local retail markets under scrutiny in EU probe of XXXLutz-Porta deal

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Susan Li, Meta's chief financial officer

Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy and Security, Technology

October 22, 2026 | Mike Swift

North America

Meta says youth-related legal costs drove 68% expense growth; more trials loom

Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy and Security

October 21, 2026 | Emma Whitford

North America

PHP incident shows AI exposing longstanding cyber vulnerabilities

Data Privacy and Security

October 21, 2026 | Mike Swift, Xu Yuan and Madeline Hughes

North America

Meta hit with $25bn fine by New Mexico judge for 'systematic' privacy deceptions
Meta says youth-related legal costs drove 68% expense growth; more trials loom
PHP incident shows AI exposing longstanding cyber vulnerabilities
Meta hit with $25bn fine by New Mexico judge for 'systematic' privacy deceptions

Antitrust View More

US DOJ antitrust policy 'gone too far' in favor of patent holders, NY enforcer says

October 22, 2026 | Khushita Vasant

North America

The Department of Justice's shift on competition policy in relation to standard essential patents during the second Trump administration is disappointing as it has "gone too far" in favor of patent holders, a ... (more story)

Butterball, turkey antitrust plaintiffs should get 'deal done,' US judge says

October 22, 2026 | Clayton Vickers

North America

US District Judge Sunil Harjani, who has long pushed parties to settle claims that turkey suppliers fixed prices, sought to dissuade attorneys for plaintiffs and “the last defendant standing,” Butterball, from... (more story)

US FTC brings antitrust enforcement to Dallas regional office, official says

October 22, 2026 | Alex Wilts

North America

The US Federal Trade Commission has expanded the work of its Dallas regional office to include antitrust enforcement, a top official said Thursday.

Artificial Intelligence View More

Google's search-related payments fund anticompetitive efforts, US DOJ, states say

October 22, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: The US Department of Justice and plaintiff states told an appeals court that it's imperative that Google be banned from making search-related payments to distributors now before it uses its “mono... (more story)

China's proposed export curbs balance AI edge with global reach

October 22, 2026 | MLex Staff

Asia

China’s proposed technology-export restrictions expose a tension in the country's ambitions as a technology power: Beijing wants to retain control over innovations underpinning its industrial strength while pr... (more story)

Meta smart glasses warrant urgent EU scrutiny, consumer group says

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Meta Platforms’ smart glasses should face urgent EU investigations over privacy and covert surveillance risks, the European Consumer Organisation, BEUC, has urged in a letter dated Wednesday and ... (more story)

Mergers and Acquisitions View More

US Senator Warren report finds weak antitrust enforcement driving up costs

October 22, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: US Senator Elizabeth Warren released a new report finding that the Trump administration’s “record of toothless antitrust settlements, dismissed enforcement actions, and widespread approval of mas... (more story)

Ecostrill's €1 fine is a warning from French watchdog for 'killer' dealmakers

October 22, 2026 | Jean Comte

Europe

A French antitrust fine this week for creating a medical waste treatment monopoly in the overseas territory of La Reunion is unlikely to be appealed: It was a symbolic €1 on each party involved as it was a fir... (more story)

Norfolk Southern CEO says rail companies filed historically thorough merger request

October 22, 2026 | Curtis Eichelberger

North America

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have submitted a merger application to the US rail regulator that's more thorough than any merger proposal ever presented by an American railroad, Norfolk Southern Chief Exec... (more story)

Data Privacy and Security View More

Hims & Hers says users consented to health data sharing, moves to dismiss US FTC claims

October 22, 2026

North America

 MLex Summary: Hims & Hers Health moved to dismiss the US Federal Trade Commission's claims that it illegally shared consumers' health information with third-party advertising platforms, pointing the court to ... (more story)

Tech suppliers' country-based cyber-risk checks get pushback from some EU govts

October 22, 2026 | Júlia Tar and Matthew Newman

Europe

Several EU countries oppose plans to classify technology suppliers as security risks because of their links to non-EU states, according to comments on the proposed Cybersecurity Act revision compiled in a new ... (more story)

Meta, TikTok, X data reveal how platforms police content harmful to UK children

October 22, 2026 | Patricia Figueiredo

Europe

Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, X and YouTube have provided data on their handling of content harmful to children, for a report published on Thursday by UK online safety regulator O... (more story)

Intellectual Property View More

IP licensing and business: Oct. 9-Oct. 22

October 22, 2026 | Steve Scherer

Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America, Oceania

Drugmakers struck licensing deals for cancer and metabolic treatments, while technology companies broadened agreements covering mobile communications, wireless charging and AI infrastructure, and Nokia saw pat... (more story)

Trade secret ruling reinforces eBay amid push to ease patent injunctions

October 22, 2026 | Melissa Ritti

North America

Massachusetts’ highest court has rejected a presumption of irreparable harm when weighing preliminary injunction requests in trade secret cases, requiring plaintiffs there to first establish that monetary dama... (more story)

Meta faces fresh EU, UK complaint over ‘anticompetitive’ scraping terms

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Meta’s revised commercial terms are again up for review at the UK and EU competition regulators, after advocacy group Movement for an Open Web filed a complaint. In a press release on Thursday, M... (more story)

Financial Crime View More

Coinbase Ireland fined €3.2m over safeguarding issues

October 22, 2026 | Martin Coyle

Europe

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s Irish unit has been fined €3.2 million by the country’s central bank, over breaches of Ireland’s e-money regulations around safeguarding. This fine follows a €21.4 million pe... (more story)

Güralp Systems wins more time to find UK plea-deal cash amid prospect of sale

October 22, 2026 | Martin Coyle

Europe

Güralp Systems has been given more time to negotiate with the UK fraud agency over its failure to pay £2 million agreed in a plea deal to avoid prosecution over allegations of bribery in South Korea. The UK se... (more story)

EU anti-money laundering, fraud bodies deepen ties to tackle financial crime

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: The EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority and Anti-Fraud Office have signed an agreement to strengthen their cooperation against financial crime. The deal will allow the agencies to share informat... (more story)

Financial Services View More

Split remains in digital euro fee talks as EU Commission floats middle ground

October 22, 2026 | Helena Freitas

Europe

Negotiations on the digital euro continue to be complicated by disagreements over merchant fees, with the European Commission suggesting a possible middle ground between EU lawmakers and governments. It will p... (more story)

Securitization revamp agreed by EU governments, lawmakers

October 21, 2026 | Fanny Roux

Europe

EU governments and lawmakers struck a deal on a revamped EU securitization framework Wednesday night in Strasbourg, France. They adjusted the capital rules initially proposed by the European Commission, change... (more story)

US OCC adopts GENIUS Act rules that trouble banking groups

October 21, 2026 | Neil Roland

North America

The US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency became the first of four agencies due to adopt GENIUS Act stablecoin rules, though the OCC’s departure from its original proposal drew sharp criticism from banking groups.

Trade View More

EU, Vietnam seek closer energy, trade ties, critical raw materials cooperation

October 22, 2026

Asia, Europe

MLex Summary: The EU and Vietnam agreed to deepen cooperation on energy, trade and critical raw materials, following talks in Brussels on Thursday between Vietnamese President Tô Lâm, European Commission Presi... (more story)

EU urge for industry energy relief tests clean investment pledges, experts warn

October 22, 2026 | Louis de Briant

Europe

Predictable carbon prices, financing and infrastructure matter more to industrial investment than targets alone, business figures and policy experts argue after an EU leaders' summit pushed for competitiveness... (more story)

EU-Canada digital trade deal close to completion ahead of summit, Šefčovič says

October 22, 2026

Europe, North America

MLex Summary: The EU and Canada are “very close to the finish line” in negotiations for a digital trade agreement, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said on Thursday in a statement on LinkedIn, adding that ... (more story)

State Aid View More

Iberian power-price aid approval survives Spanish manufacturers’ EU appeal

October 22, 2026 | Lewis Crofts and Anna Lauwereys

Europe

Five Spanish industrial manufacturers saw their challenge of a state aid measure for power prices dismissed at the EU top court on Thursday. PGI Spain, Berry Superfos Pamplona, Promens Packaging, RPC Envases a... (more story)

PGI Spain, others, lose appeal over Iberian power at EU top court

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: PGI Spain, along with companies including Berry Superfos and RPC Envases, failed to challenge a previous court defeat over a Spanish and Portuguese measure to back the input costs of fossil-fuel ... (more story)

Romanian port pilotage monopoly isn’t state aid, EU court rules

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Romania's decision to reserve mandatory port pilotage services for public entities is not state aid where those services are inseparable from public duties involving maritime safety and environme... (more story)

Energy View More

EU methane reporting requirements delay should be three years, lawmakers agree

October 22, 2026 | Louis de Briant

Europe

Fossil-fuel importers would get three additional years to meet EU methane requirements rather than one year as proposed by the European Commission, under a position adopted by the European Parliament on Thursd... (more story)

‘Be more robust’ to tackle cost of living, UK energy minister urges regulators

October 22, 2026 | Jon Menon

Europe

The UK's energy minister has urged regulators to have a “more robust” approach, as part of broad efforts to tackle the cost of living. The challenge across all the regulators is to be “a bit more intentional,”... (more story)

EU refineries dialogue to take place soon as diesel, jet fuel supplies remain tight

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: The European Commission will soon start a strategic dialogue with EU refineries, chaired by European Commissioners Dan Jørgensen and Andrius Kubilius. The announcement came during an Oil Coordina... (more story)

Technology View More

TikTok’s community guidelines changes scrutinized by UK regulator

October 22, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: TikTok’s changes to its community guidelines are under scrutiny by the UK online safety regulator. In an update published on Thursday, Ofcom said it had used its formal powers to request informat... (more story)

Trump attended Live Nation settlement talks with US DOJ, company says

October 22, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: US President Donald Trump "briefly attended" a March 5, 2026 meeting where a term sheet was signed resolving US Department of Justice-led antitrust litigation against Live Nation and Ticketmaster... (more story)

UK children see as much harm online as before platform safety duties, Ofcom says

October 22, 2026 | Imogen Howse

Europe

Children’s reported exposure to harmful content online showed no significant overall change over the first nine months after platforms were subjected to new child safety duties, regulator Ofcom said in a repor... (more story)