Techdirt

Analysis of technology policy, intellectual property, and digital civil liberties issues.

Visit site

Articles from Techdirt

Regulatory & CompliancePrivacy & Data Protection

DHS to Equip All ICE Officers with Body Cameras by August 2026

DHS policy mandates body cameras for all ICE officers by August 2026, restricting public footage access with agency-controlled disclosures.

Aug 21, 20263 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceLegal Operations

US Childhood Vaccination Rates Drop Amid Rising Measles, Whooping Cough Cases

Childhood vaccination rates fall below herd immunity thresholds during 2025-26 amid measles and whooping cough outbreaks, raising legal compliance concerns.

Aug 20, 20263 min read
Regulatory & CompliancePrivacy & Data Protection

France’s top court blocks social media ban for under-15s

France's Constitutional Council overturns under-15 social media ban, raising key legal debates on minors' digital rights in the EU.

Aug 19, 20263 min read
Intellectual PropertyLitigation

Buc-ee’s sued Beaver’s Mini Mart over logo similarity on July 28, 2026

Buc-ee’s filed a trademark lawsuit against Beaver’s Mini Mart in Ohio, sparking vandalism, political reactions, and community fundraising efforts.

Aug 19, 20263 min read
Intellectual PropertyLitigation

Buc-ee's Files Suit Against Mickey's Over Moose Logo Trademark

Buc-ee's sued Mickey's in February 2026 for moose mascot trademark infringement, continuing its aggressive brand protection strategy.

Aug 13, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

Ninth Circuit Limits Section 230 Immunity in Gonzalez v. Meta

The Ninth Circuit ruled on Aug 12, 2026, narrowing Section 230 protections in Gonzalez v. Meta, affecting platform liability and compliance.

Aug 13, 20263 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceLegal Tech

FCC Removes TV Ownership Caps, Boosting Nexstar’s Reach to 80% of U.S. Households

In August 2026, FCC removed TV ownership limits, approving Nexstar’s $6.2B Tegna deal and sparking legal challenges over media consolidation and competition.

Aug 13, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

UC Law SF Highlights Ethical Gaps in Lawyers’ AI Use

UC Law San Francisco’s LexLab reveals ethical challenges lawyers face using AI, urging education to prevent disciplinary risks.

Aug 13, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

Hundreds of U.S. Police Launch Drone-First-Responder Programs by Aug 2026

Over 1,000 U.S. public safety agencies will deploy drones as first responders, raising new legal and privacy concerns around aerial surveillance.

Aug 12, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

Zuckerberg's 6,500-Word Manifesto Warns Against AI Monopoly Risks

Mark Zuckerberg defends AI innovation and warns that concentrated power in AI is the biggest risk, impacting AI governance debates and legal tech.

Aug 10, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

Trump’s 2026 AI Review Framework Copies Biden, Limits Transparency

Trump’s 2026 AI Executive Order sets a voluntary AI review framework with less transparency than Biden’s 2023 plan, raising compliance challenges.

Aug 7, 20263 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceGovernment & Policy

Senate Confirms Erica Schwartz as CDC Director Despite Vaccine Policy Disputes

Dr. Erica Schwartz was confirmed as CDC director on Aug 5, 2026, amid debates on political influence and vaccine policies.

Aug 7, 20263 min read
LitigationLegal Operations

eBay, Ex-Execs Settle $56M Lawsuit Over Journalist Harassment

eBay and former executives settle $56M lawsuit over harassment claims involving journalists, highlighting legal risks for corporate retaliation.

Aug 4, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligencePrivacy & Data Protection

Judge Upholds Minnesota's Ban on AI 'Nudify' Apps Over xAI Objection

Federal judge denies xAI's bid to block Minnesota's law banning AI 'nudify' apps, affirming state's authority to regulate privacy-invasive tech.

Aug 2, 20262 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceGovernment & Policy

FCC Drone Ban Spurs Legal Battles and Patchy Enforcement in 2026

FCC’s 2025 ban on DJI drones triggers lawsuits, inconsistent enforcement, and challenges for compliance teams in U.S. telecom and tech sectors.

Jul 31, 20262 min read
Intellectual PropertyRegulatory & Compliance

John Oliver Challenges Buc-ee’s to Sue Over Parody Merchandise

John Oliver dares Buc-ee’s to sue him over trademark parody, spotlighting legal battles in branding and IP law.

Jul 31, 20263 min read
Artificial IntelligenceRegulatory & Compliance

Axon's AI Police Report Tool Raises Doubts on Quality Gains

Critical analysis finds Axon's AI tool aids report writing but fails to improve police report quality or speed, raising transparency concerns.

Jul 31, 20263 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceGovernment & Policy

Judge: DOJ Ended Portland Police Probe After Dhillon’s Tweets Raised Concerns

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon rules DOJ acted improperly in pressing Portland for protest footage, citing Assistant AG Dhillon's public comments.

Jul 29, 20263 min read
Intellectual PropertyRegulatory & Compliance

US District Court Rejects Google’s DMCA Bid to Block SerpApi Scraping

US District Court rules against Google’s DMCA claims in web scraping case with SerpApi, limiting DMCA anti-circumvention use in public search result access.

Jul 27, 20263 min read
Regulatory & ComplianceGovernment & Policy

Court Restores Digital Equity Grants, Removes Race-Based Criteria

A court ruling reinstates $2.75B in Digital Equity grants but strikes down race-based criteria, affecting federal broadband funding policy.

Jul 27, 20263 min read