Major recent US immigration changes are reshaping employer compliance and visa processes—from social media vetting to costly new programs and reduced work permit validity. Find out what these updates mean for your workforce and future planning. For example, the Gold Card Program launched, offering a path to permanent residence but with unclear timelines and requirements. EAD validity periods have been shortened, and automatic extensions removed for most categories, increasing compliance risks. Proposed ESTA changes will require extensive social media history, making applications more complex.
On 9 December 2025, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) issued No-Action Letter 25-42 to streamline compliance for cross-border swap transactions.
The letter aligns with the 2020 Cross-Border Rule by standardizing key definitions such as “U.S. person” and “guarantee,” removes the need for conduit affiliate analysis, and allows continued reliance on prior classifications beyond the original 2027 sunset date. It also supersedes older no-action letters, reducing regulatory inconsistencies and simplifying compliance processes for market participants.
On 24 November 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a proposed settlement with RealPage Inc. over alleged antitrust violations tied to its rental pricing algorithms. The agreement, effective for seven years, includes no fines or admission of wrongdoing.
Key terms restrict RealPage to using data at least 12 months old, prohibit real-time lease data, and ban geographic modeling below the state level. The company must avoid identical pricing recommendations, remove features discouraging price cuts, and stop sharing nonpublic, forward-looking data. A court-appointed monitor will oversee compliance.
This settlement underscores DOJ’s focus on algorithmic collusion and AI-driven pricing practices.
Canadian privacy regulators are intensifying scrutiny of platforms used by minors, emphasizing age assurance and youth privacy. Investigations reveal that self-declared age gates and adult-oriented consent language are inadequate. Platforms must adopt layered age verification, youth-friendly privacy communications, and contextual data practices. Enforcement is shaping standards ahead of formal guidance, urging proactive compliance measures.
On 6 October 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California enacted a series of laws that included an amendment to California’s antitrust statute, the Cartwright Act. He declared that the series of bipartisan legislation “further protects families by creating stronger consumer protections and increasing affordability.” Specifically, the antitrust amendment prohibits the use or distribution of “common pricing algorithms” that rely on competitor data or facilitate coordinated pricing. Two days later, Governor Newsom signed a second bill into law dramatically increasing penalties for Cartwright Act violations—raising corporate criminal fines, individual criminal fines, and giving courts discretion to apply civil penalties for misconduct.
Earlier this summer, the US Administration’s Working Group on Digital Asset Markets published a report, entitled Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology. The Report contains recommendations for revising existing legislation and IRS guidance regarding trusts engaged in cryptocurrency staking, Code provisions that may deny recognition of gains or losses by active securities traders, and reporting requirements for participants in digital asset transactions and for the exchanges that facilitate such activities
On August 29, 2025, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) issued a 7-4 en banc opinion in VOS Selections, Inc. v. Trump, holding that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) does not authorize the President to impose broad, indefinite tariffs. The case was initially brought in the Court of International Trade (CIT) by private businesses and the US state attorneys general. The President invoked IEEPA on various grounds, including concerns about drug enforcement, border security, and trade deficits. In a May decision granting summary judgment to the VOS Selections plaintiffs, the CIT found that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose the tariffs at issue, which the US Government appealed.
In March 2025, the Home Office issued a revised version of its statutory guidance “Transparency in Supply Chains” following the House of Lords Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee’s report. This marks the first full revision of the guidance in nearly a decade. In an article for Compliance & Risk, Jon Tuck and David Yadid examine the current legal framework under the Act, unpack the key changes introduced by the new guidance, and consider their implications for businesses.
The week of July 14 to 18, 2025 marked a historic moment for the U.S. cryptocurrency industry, as the U.S. House of Representatives officially designated it “Crypto Week”. This initiative signalled a profound shift in how Washington approaches the burgeoning digital asset landscape, moving from cautious observation to active legislative engagement. While much of the attention landed on the GENIUS Act, it is also important to understand the implications of the CLARITY Act and the Anti-CBDC Act.
Via the Internet, companies can publish information, offer contracts, deliver virtual items, and send payments to any country in the world. Companies can also collect personal information from consumers anywhere on the planet. For attorneys, this raises the question of what law governs transactions and activities involving businesses or legal entities in more than one jurisdiction. In this article, we summarize a few principles, flag commonly relevant issues, and suggest practical approaches for attorneys advising Internet businesses.