California companies may have less time than they think to prepare for privacy audits. The California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) new Audits Division, created in February 2026, is expected to begin assessing companies’ compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) this year, according to Executive Director Tom Kemp. This is a notable remark because—while
Privacy Trends Fashion, Beauty, and Wearable Tech Brands Need to Watch
Fashion, beauty, and wearable technology brands are heading into 2026 with a lot more to think about concerning data privacy. What used to feel like a back-end legal issue is now shaping how companies design products, personalize experiences, and build trust with customers. With new state privacy laws taking effect in Indiana, Kentucky, and Rhode
CCPA Employee Data Rulemaking Could Reshape Employer Privacy Compliance in California
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) continues to stand apart as the only comprehensive state privacy law in the U.S. that applies to personal information relating to employees, job applicants, and independent contractors. Since that coverage expanded in January 2023, many employers have had to navigate the difficult task of applying a consumer privacy framework
What Legal AI Is Really Changing in Law Firm Economics
Legal commentary on artificial intelligence in law practice often focuses on speed: drafts that once took days can now be produced in hours, and research that once took hours can now be narrowed in minutes. Those gains are real, but they do not resolve the more important operational questions. Many firms still don’t know whether
California’s DROP Regime will Change the Data Broker Risk Equation
California’s new Delete Request and Opt-Out Platform (DROP) goes live on August 1, 2026, and the compliance stakes are enormous. State officials have warned that a single missed deletion cycle could create theoretical penalty exposure of $1.5 billion for one data broker. That number reflects how aggressively the Delete Act is designed to work. One consumer request can
Legal AI Delivers More Value When It Is Tied to Business Outcomes
As corporate legal departments continue adopting AI, the conversation is shifting from experimentation to strategy. According to the Thomson Reuters Institute’s 2026 State of the Corporate Law Department Report, nearly half of legal departments now report department-wide AI adoption, and technology has become a top strategic priority for many general counsel.
That momentum
CNN Must Defend Privacy Suit Alleging Data Sharing with Microsoft and Adtech Firms
A federal judge has ruled that CNN must face a proposed class action alleging that its website shared consumers’ personal information with Microsoft and adtech firms without consent, in alleged violation of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA). The lawsuit challenges CNN’s alleged use of online tracking tools and the downstream sharing of data in the digital advertising ecosystem.
According
Vetting AI for Government: California’s Executive Order Sets New Expectations
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a new executive order aimed at tightening California’s procurement rules for artificial intelligence (AI) vendors and “raising the bar” for companies that want to sell AI tools to the state. The administration says the goal is to ensure contractors meet strong standards and can demonstrate responsible policies that prevent misuse
Consent Banners Versus Browser Reality: What the Ace Hardware Complaint Alleges
A new class action in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that Ace Hardware tracked users’ online activity through third-party tools before users could make meaningful choices through cookie consent tools, and that it continued even after users took steps to opt out. The plaintiffs claim that the Ace Hardware
Carfax Motion to Dismiss Denied in DPPA Crash-Report Data Sales Case
Carfax, Inc. faced an early loss in a closely-watched privacy case under the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), after a judge in Maryland refused to throw out a proposed class action alleging the company sold drivers’ personal information sourced from crash and vehicle records. The plaintiff alleges that Carfax obtained his DPPA-protected personal information