In November 2024, the Federal Trade Commission released a staff perspective paper titled “Smart Device Makers’ Failure to Provide Updates May Leave You Smarting” (the “Perspective”). The Perspective reflects on the findings from a survey wherein the FTC looked for information about how long companies would provide software updates for 184 smart products. The FTC found that nearly 89% of the manufacturers’ websites for these products did not disclose how long the products would receive software updates. According to the FTC, if the manufacturer stops providing software updates, these products may lose their “smart” functionality, become insecure or stop working.
The Perspective notes that manufacturers’ failure to inform prospective purchasers about the duration of software updates for products sold with written warranties could violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which requires that written warranties on consumer products costing more than $15 be made available to prospective buyers prior to sale. The Prospective also alleges that failing to provide software update information to consumers could violate the FTC Act if manufacturers make express or implied representations about how long the product is useable.
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On March 5, 2026, the California Privacy Protection Agency announced that the agency had reached a settlement with Ford Motor Company resolving an enforcement action against the company that alleged noncompliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act’s opt-out of sale/sharing rights.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued a new Policy Statement encouraging the adoption of robust age‑verification technologies by pledging not to bring enforcement actions under the COPPA Rule against operators of general‑ or mixed‑audience sites that collect, use or disclose personal information solely to determine users’ ages, so long as long as they follow strict safeguards.
On February 23, 2026, a Joint Statement on AI-Generated Imagery was published by 61 data protection authorities. The Joint Statement addresses concerns regarding AI systems capable of generating realistic images and videos depicting identifiable individuals without their knowledge or consent.
On February 18, 2026, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones announced that his office intends to fully enforce new provisions of the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act restricting minors’ use of social media.
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