Regulatory Landscape Shift - The regulatory landscape for technology in the United States is expected to undergo significant changes with the new Trump administration, moving away from the civil rights focus of the Biden administration towards innovation and economic competitiveness [2][3][5] AI Regulation - The incoming Trump administration is likely to repeal the Biden administration's AI Bill of Rights and executive order, which established safety, privacy, and civil rights protections for AI technologies [6][7] - The Trump administration's deregulatory approach may limit federal AI legislation, leading states to take the lead in addressing AI-related issues, with at least 45 states introducing AI-related bills in 2024 [9] Data Privacy - The proposed American Privacy Rights Act aims to create a comprehensive federal privacy framework, but its success will depend on Congress's actions in 2025 [10][21] - Since California's Consumer Privacy Rights Act in 2019, 19 states have enacted comprehensive privacy laws, resulting in a fragmented regulatory environment [12][16] Cybersecurity and Health Data Privacy - Approximately 30 states have implemented cybersecurity standards for businesses, with California proposing rules for cybersecurity audits and data protection [14] - States like Washington and Nevada have expanded health data privacy protections beyond federal regulations, indicating a trend towards stronger state-level privacy laws [15][16] Social Media Regulation - The regulation of online platforms remains contentious, with potential reforms to Section 230 under consideration, reflecting differing approaches between the Trump and Biden administrations [17][18] - States such as California and Connecticut have enacted laws requiring platforms to disclose information about hate speech and misinformation, while federal-level debates continue on balancing platform neutrality with accountability [19][21]
Tech law in 2025: A look ahead at AI, privacy and social media regulation under the new Trump administration