Privacy

On September 24, 2025, Covington’s tech industry experts explored what legal teams, government affairs professionals, and business leaders at tech companies need to know during this pivotal period and offered insights into anticipated challenges and emerging opportunities in the year ahead. Eight Covington attorneys shared their insights during a 60-minute session moderated by Covington partner Holly Fechner. Key takeaways from the Forum are outlined below.Continue Reading Covington Tech Briefing Spotlight: Impact of Latest Policy Developments on the Tech Industry

On November 19, 2025, the European Commission unveiled its 2030 Consumer Agenda, setting out priorities for EU consumer policy over the next five years. Below is an overview of the six key measures most relevant to industry.Continue Reading European Commission Announces 2030 Consumer Policy Strategy

Last week, the Third Circuit affirmed dismissal of a putative class action asserting that defendant Quest Diagnostics violated the California Invasion of Privacy Act (“CIPA”) and the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (“CMIA”) by employing a website pixel to track and collect data about their website activity for advertising purposes.

Continue Reading Third Circuit Affirms Dismissal of CIPA and CMIA Claims

On 19 November 2025, the European Commission (“Commission”) officially presented its Digital Omnibus Package (see here and here). The initiative represents a comprehensive update to the EU’s digital regulatory landscape, which the Commission frames as a competitiveness and simplification initiative aimed at reducing administrative burdens and enhancing legal certainty for businesses. Although the final text is likely to evolve during negotiations with the European Parliament and the Council of the EU (“Council”), the package, if adopted in its present form, would introduce significant changes to data protection obligations, cookie rules, cybersecurity regulations and the EU AI Act.

The Digital Omnibus Package consists of two proposed regulations: a “Digital Omnibus” that would amend, amongst other legislation, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ePrivacy Directive, NIS2 Directive and Data Act, and a “Digital Omnibus on AI” that would amend the EU AI Act. We outline below key proposals from the Digital Omnibus that have particular significance for organizations operating in the EU.

A summary of amendments affecting the Data Act and the key proposals in the Digital Omnibus on AI will be addressed in subsequent blog posts.Continue Reading European Commission Proposes Revisions to GDPR and Other Digital Rules Under Digital Omnibus Package

On November 4, 2025, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (“HELP”) Committee, introduced the Health Information Privacy Reform Act (“HIPRA”). HIPRA seeks to extend protections similar to those provided under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and its implementing regulations (collectively, “HIPAA”) to certain health information collected by entities not currently regulated by HIPAA. HIPRA also proposes modifications and calls for guidance related to certain existing provisions of HIPAA as well as Part 2 (related to substance use disorder medical history).Continue Reading U.S. Senate Introduces the Health Information Privacy Reform Act

On October 30, 2025, California Attorney General Bonta announced a $530,000 settlement related to allegations that Sling TV, an internet-based live TV service, violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and the California Unfair Competition Law. This is the first enforcement action arising from the California Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) investigative sweep of streaming services and connected TVs, which was announced in January 2024.Continue Reading California Attorney General Announces $530,000 CCPA Settlement with Sling TV

Last week, the Global Privacy Enforcement Network (“GPEN”)—a global network of over 30 national data protection authorities—announced the launch of its annual privacy sweep. The purpose of the sweep is to examine how websites and mobile applications commonly used by children handle minors’ personal information. Members of GPEN include regulators who have long prioritized protections for children and teens, such as the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”), the California Attorney General, the California Privacy Protection Agency, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, the French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (“CNIL”), and the Irish Data Protection Commission.Continue Reading Global Privacy Regulators Launch Enforcement Sweep Focused on Children’s Data Protection

On September 23, 2025, the California Privacy Protection Agency announced that the state’s Office of Administrative Law approved regulations that update existing California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) regulations and introduce new regulations covering cybersecurity audits, risk assessments, and automated decision-making technology.  The updates to the existing regulations—which take effect on January 1, 2026—expand business obligations under the CCPA and give consumers more control over their personal information.  This blog post highlights key updates to the existing regulations. Continue Reading California Finalizes Updates to Existing CCPA Regulations

Recently, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law several privacy and related proposals, including new laws governing browser opt-out preference signals, social media account deletion, data brokers, reproductive and health services, age signals for app stores, social media “black box warning” labels for minors, and companion chatbots. This blog summarizes the statutes’ key takeaways.Continue Reading California Enacts New Privacy Laws

On September 30, 2025, the California Privacy Protection Agency (“Agency”) announced a decision and $1.35 million fine to resolve allegations that Tractor Supply Co. (“Tractor Supply”) violated the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”). The settlement comes after the Agency filed a petition to enforce an investigative subpoena against Tractor Supply. In addition to imposing the Agency’s largest fine to date, the settlement also marks the Agency’s first enforcement action related to job applicant personal data. Similar to the enforcement actions against American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and Todd Snyder, Inc., the Agency continues to focus on how businesses facilitate consumer rights under the CCPA.Continue Reading California Privacy Agency Fines Tractor Supply $1.35 Million Over CCPA Violations