United States: Social Media

The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act has moved from legislative text to active enforcement, with the DOJ securing its first criminal convictions and the FTC launching regulatory oversight of tech platforms. Companies hosting user-generated content now face immediate compliance obligations, including mandatory 48-hour removal processes for nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated deepfakes, backed by civil penalties exceeding $53,000 per violation.

Recently, social media personality Pattie Gonia shared a video with her more than 2 million Instagram and TikTok followers to draw attention to a lawsuit by clothing brand Patagonia filed against her in January.

On May 22, 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a complaint and request for injunctive relief against Discord, Inc. under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), alleging that the platform misled...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an unprecedented enforcement campaign against major technology companies, filing multiple lawsuits and investigations within days targeting Netflix, Meta, WhatsApp, and Discord.

This newsletter compiles recent federal and state consumer protection enforcement actions, regulatory announcements, and advertising challenge decisions from May 2026. It covers FTC settlements involving subscription practices and investment training schemes, state actions against lease-to-own companies and data collection practices, and NAD recommendations for advertising claims.

As AI reshapes the advertising technology landscape, three fundamental shifts are redefining how companies allocate digital ad spend. With nearly one in three U.S. digital ad dollars flowing to connected TV and premium video, the industry is moving beyond surface-level AI integration toward strategic deployment that drives measurable outcomes and margin optimization.

Meta AI glasses, marketed as privacy-focused wearable technology, have sparked global controversy after investigations revealed that contract workers review users' intimate audiovisual recordings, including private moments in bedrooms and bathrooms.

Telehealth innovation succeeds only when compliance discipline matches the pace of growth.

The Institute for Responsible Influence has launched a voluntary certification program designed to train social media creators on FTC disclosure requirements and advertising compliance standards.