Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation

US FTC subpoenas show White House’s regulatory response to AI risks

UK online safety regime's future may turn on watchdog's current court battles

Vale a weak rival for Anglo’s Brazilian mine, EU watchdog says in MMG deal probe

USTR hears concerns on Russia digital laws ahead of WTO report

EU standards overhaul risks weakening global tech influence, ETSI warns

Latest News

Top News

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes looks on as Attorney General of Oregon Dan Rayfield speaks to press in front of the Supreme Court

Antitrust, Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy and Security

October 15, 2026 | Maria Dinzeo

North America

Surveillance pricing poised to become major focus for US state AGs in 2027
Riding e-bikes / electric bicycles with children cycling on bikes along dyke against orange European / EU summer sunset sky

Trade

October 15, 2026 | Cynthia Kroet

Europe

E-bike ruling gives EU customs new way to target import-assembly operations
AI privacy

Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy and Security

October 14, 2026 | Mike Swift

North America

In new OpenAI, SpaceX suits, privacy emerges as growing US AI litigation risk
Surveillance pricing poised to become major focus for US state AGs in 2027
E-bike ruling gives EU customs new way to target import-assembly operations
In new OpenAI, SpaceX suits, privacy emerges as growing US AI litigation risk

Antitrust View More

Microsoft's business software heft to come under heavier UK antitrust scrutiny

October 16, 2026 | Simon Zekaria

Europe

Microsoft should be designated as having “strategic market status” over its business software, the UK competition regulator proposed in a move that could lead to conduct requirements or pro-competitive interve... (more story)

South Korea's serious-crime agency begins work under inaugural chief Kim Ji-yong

October 16, 2026

Asia

MLex Summary: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has voiced support for Kim Ji-yong as he began work as the inaugural head of the country’s new serious-crime investigation agency, established as part of an o... (more story)

Microsoft has ‘strategic market status’ in business software, UK CMA proposes

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Microsoft should be designated as having "strategic market status" in its business software ecosystem, the UK antitrust regulator has proposed, meaning it could face regulatory interventions to i... (more story)

Artificial Intelligence View More

Views sought on UK digital rules’ potential overlaps, uncertainties

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: UK businesses are invited to flag overlaps between different digital rules and uncertainty about how regulatory frameworks interact, under a consultation opened by the Digital Regulation Cooperat... (more story)

Philippines' IP office clarifies copyright rules for AI-assisted works

October 16, 2026 | James Konstantin Galvez

Asia

The Philippines’ intellectual property office aims to issue guidelines by the end of the year clarifying how human creative contributions to artificial intelligence-assisted works will be assessed for copyrigh... (more story)

China proposes new AI, biotech, solar technology export curbs

October 16, 2026

Asia

MLex Summary: Exporters of certain artificial intelligence, biopharmaceutical and solar technologies from China must register their international transfers under temporary measures announced Friday by the Mini... (more story)

Mergers and Acquisitions View More

Alimentation Couche-Tard files Zabka takeover for clearance in Poland

October 16, 2026 | Jean Comte

Europe

Canadian convenience-store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard has notified the Polish competition authority about its intended takeover of Zabka Group, which is Poland's largest convenience retailer. The deal i... (more story)

Telenor wins Norwegian approval for GlobalConnect divestment nominees

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Norwegian telecom operator Telenor has secured regulatory approval to sell parts of GlobalConnect's fiber infrastructure and customer business to rival operators Telia and NextGenTel, as required... (more story)

Fairbanks Morse gains UK security clearance to buy submarine parts supplier

October 16, 2026 | Jon Menon

Europe

Fairbanks Morse Defense has gained UK national security clearance to buy Britain’s Truflo Marine, with conditions to address risks to government supplies and to sensitive information. The US company will have ... (more story)

Data Privacy and Security View More

Connecticut enters $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications over data breach

October 16, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced the state entered into a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc., after the company had a data breach in 2024 that exposed... (more story)

UK govt must clarify Afghan data breach accountability, parliament committee says

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: The UK government must clarify who held responsibility for data protection risks before a 2022 Afghan data breach and whether disciplinary action followed, a cross-party parliamentary committee o... (more story)

Online platforms face November deadline to remove violent porn under UK ban

October 16, 2026 | Imogen Howse

Europe

Online platforms must remove pornographic content depicting strangulation, certain incestuous relationships and adults roleplaying as children under 16 before Nov. 6, the UK government confirmed on Friday. Suc... (more story)

Intellectual Property View More

Congress floats crackdown on US patents for some Chinese companies

October 16, 2026 | Nick Robertson

Asia, North America

A bill that would block certain Chinese companies from obtaining and enforcing US patents could strengthen licensees' bargaining positions but may also expose US patent owners to retaliation abroad, stakeholders told MLex.

Japan's actors push ambitious AI voice rules beyond existing legal protections

October 16, 2026 | Toko Sekiguchi

Asia

Japan’s actors are seeking destruction of unauthorized AI voice models and restrictions on synthetic performances after death, setting out demands on questions the government has yet to resolve in its legislative discussions.

China's IP, customs regulators step up cooperation on trademark, patent enforcement

October 16, 2026 | MLex Staff

Asia

China's intellectual property and customs authorities have unveiled measures to strengthen cooperation on trademark and patent enforcement, aiming to align infringement assessments and improve protection again... (more story)

Financial Crime View More

Novax director makes initial US appearance in PDVSA illicit export scheme

October 16, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: Mikhail Largin, 60, Novax Group's director of special projects, appeared in Miami federal court on charges related to his alleged role in a scheme to obtain aircraft parts for Venezuela's state-c... (more story)

Former Barclays, Deutsche traders see UK bans overturned after LIBOR appeals

October 16, 2026 | Martin Coyle

Europe

Three former traders from Barclays and one from Deutsche have had their bans from working in the UK’s financial industry overturned following the quashing of their criminal convictions last week. The four had ... (more story)

Russian man extradited to US on charges over illicit microelectronic shipments

October 15, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: Alexander Suvorov, a Russian national residing in Sweden, was extradited to the US on charges related to the unlawful exporting of micro-electronic components from the US to Russia via a front co... (more story)

Financial Services View More

UniCredit gets ECB nod to increase stake in Commerzbank

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Italian lender UniCredit said it received authorization from the European Central Bank to increase its stake in Commerzbank above 30 percent. The deal is being separately scrutinized by the Europ... (more story)

777 Partners founder pleads guilty in US to $500 million fraud scheme

October 15, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: Joshua Wander, the founder and former CEO of 777 Partners, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the lenders and investors of the Miami-based in... (more story)

Global authorities shouldn't rely on US probes like 'flawed' SVB inquiry, Bowman says

October 15, 2026 | Neil Roland

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

Global standard-setting bodies shouldn't rely on the findings of US or other domestic investigations, said Michelle Bowman, the US Federal Reserve's top banking regulator, citing the "inherently flawed" report... (more story)

Trade View More

Car companies to see more detailed 'made in Europe' rules under French-German plan

October 16, 2026 | Cynthia Kroet and Louis de Briant

Europe

France and Germany want to move the automotive provisions from the draft Industrial Accelerator Act, or IAA, to the Automotive Package, under a joint position paper seen by MLex. The countries call for more de... (more story)

EU safeguard measure for Malaysian ferroalloy imports updated

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: A 2025 regulation imposing a definitive safeguard measure on imports of certain ferroalloys has been amended to correct Malaysia's 2022 import volume and increase its in-quota volume, the Europea... (more story)

EU leaders call for stronger trade-defense tools; back carbon market

October 16, 2026

Asia, Europe

MLex Summary: EU leaders called for new trade-defense tools to tackle global economic imbalances, alongside continued dialogue with China, in conclusions adopted on Friday. Leaders also reaffirmed support for ... (more story)

State Aid View More

Leonardo, EU Commission sparred on geographical market for Iveco defense deal

October 15, 2026 | Jean Comte

Europe

Italian defense company Leonardo tried to convince the European Commission that the relevant geographical market to assess its acquisition of Iveco's defense division was European-wide, and not national, accor... (more story)

Greek row over state aid for newspapers prompts EU court questions

October 14, 2026 | Jean Comte

Europe

The EU's top court has been asked to specify which criteria member states can use to decide whether two companies should be considered as a single state aid recipient. The dispute is related to a legal challen... (more story)

Leonardo's military-vehicle deal EU clearance decision published

October 14, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Italian defense company Leonardo saw its approved deal with Iveco and Astra published by the European Commission on Wednesday, seven months after its clearance. The regulator found that the trans... (more story)

Energy View More

France, Germany want EU auto plan with decarbonization, regulatory flexibility

October 16, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: France and Germany want a comprehensive EU automotive plan that combines an ambitious decarbonization pathway with the regulatory flexibility needed to reflect different market realities and tech... (more story)

EU carbon market wins leaders’ backing; fresh assessment of expansion sought

October 16, 2026 | Louis de Briant

Europe

The EU's Emissions Trading System will remain in place despite calls from several member states to further postpone its extension to buildings and road transport, known as ETS2. Following lengthy discussions, ... (more story)

Nordic leaders urge EU to preserve carbon market rules

October 15, 2026

Europe

MLex Summary: Any weakening of the EU's Emissions Trading System, the bloc's carbon market, would undermine the predictibility of investment decisions, say the Prime ministers of Finland, Denmark and Sweden in... (more story)

Technology View More

Gail Slater joins White & Case

October 15, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: Former US Department of Justice antitrust chief Gail Slater has joined White & Case's Global Antitrust Practice and Global Technology Industry Group, the law firm said in a statement. White & Cas... (more story)

Georgia's social media law can be enforced, US appeals court says

October 15, 2026 | Xu Yuan

North America

A Georgia state law imposing restrictions on social media platforms regarding minor users is cleared to take effect after an appeals court reversed a preliminary injunction imposed earlier at the request of the tech industry.

Injunction against Georgia social media parental consent law reversed on appeal

October 15, 2026

North America

MLex Summary: The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit reversed an injunction against Georgia’s Children on Social Media Act. The panel determined that NetChoice failed to make out a facial First Amend... (more story)