AI Regulation Tracker

What we captured

The European Union began enforcing provisions of its Artificial Intelligence Act, giving the European Commission’s AI Office and national authorities powers over prohibited AI practices, general-purpose AI models, and specified transparency requirements.

• • Enforcement began on August 2, 2026.
• • The European Commission’s AI Office and national authorities gained new enforcement powers.
• • The Act covers certain providers and deployers outside the EU when systems or outputs are connected to the European market.

Source evidence

Confidence 99% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

The European Union requires AI system providers serving its market to mark AI-generated content, including text, with the requirement applying from August 2, 2026. Anthropic says its Claude watermarking rollout is intended to comply with this requirement.

• • Anthropic attributes its future Claude text-watermarking rollout to compliance with the EU AI Act.
• • The requirement applies to AI providers serving the EU market as of August 2, 2026.
• • Anthropic says it will apply watermarking globally at launch.

Source evidence

Confidence 91% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

Judge Sarah D. Smith issued a September 2025 standing order setting requirements for AI use in civil litigation and an August 2026 addendum permitting limited court AI assistance while reserving adjudication to the judge.

• • The standing order was issued in September 2025.
• • The court-use addendum was issued in August 2026.
• • The addendum allows AI support for tasks such as outlining, editing, formatting, organizing, summarizing identified materials, and administrative work.

Source evidence

Confidence 83% / Completeness 95%

What we captured

Minnesota’s law banning the creation and promotion of nonconsensual AI-generated nude images took effect August 1, 2026. A federal judge declined to halt enforcement while xAI’s constitutional challenge proceeds.

• • The law took effect August 1, 2026.
• • The court denied xAI’s preliminary-injunction request, leaving the law in force.
• • The statute includes potential damages of at least $500,000 for each unlawful access.

Source evidence

Confidence 94% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

A U.S. federal judge ordered the administration to lift its exclusion of Anthropic technology from federal agencies, ruling that the supply-chain-risk designation violated the governing statutory framework and was arbitrary and capricious.

• • The August merits ruling followed a March 26 preliminary injunction.
• • The court found the designation violated the governing statutory framework and was arbitrary and capricious.
• • The article does not establish whether individual agencies retain separate procurement or security restrictions.

Source evidence

Confidence 98% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

Saudi Arabia published Implementing Regulations for its Copyright Law on July 31, 2026. The regulations took effect immediately and set conditions for AI training uses of copyrighted works while establishing compulsory licensing for certain Arabic translations.

• • The regulations were published in the official gazette Umm Al-Qura on July 31, 2026.
• • Article 30 imposes purpose, necessity, record-keeping, and author-interest conditions on AI-related use of copyrighted works.
• • Articles 31–43 create a compulsory licensing regime for certain Arabic translations.
• • The article states that further SAIP guidance may be needed on several provisions, including commercial use and model outputs.

Source evidence

Confidence 99% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

On July 31, 2026 the Virginia State Corporation Commission issued an order requiring mandatory contributions in aid of construction (CIAC) for certain direct-connect substations and transmission lines serving new large-load facilities, made hyperscaler payments mandatory, cut a proposed residential bill increase, and required Dominion to file an amended line-extension policy within 90 days.

• • Order date: July 31, 2026 (as reported).
• • SCC directed certain direct-connect substations and transmission lines for new large-load facilities be paid through mandatory CIAC.
• • Hyperscalers (including Google and Amazon) had sought voluntary payments; the SCC made payments mandatory.
• • SCC reduced a proposed typical residential monthly increase from $2.90 to $0.94 in the Rider T-1 case.
• • Dominion must file an amended line-extension policy within 90 days of the order.
• • The commission left open whether direct assignment should later apply to more upstream transmission costs or a blended approach for a new GS-5 customer class (25 MW+).

Source evidence

What we captured

Germany’s cabinet approved a draft law to authorize AI-assisted monitoring, internet cross-checking, and government use of personal data in visa, residence, and asylum procedures. The bill remains a proposed measure pending parliamentary consideration.

• • Cabinet approval occurred on July 29, 2026.
• • The draft would permit automated procedural monitoring of completed cases.
• • The draft would permit automated comparison of applicants’ statements with public internet sources in specified cases.
• • The draft would permit use of personal data to train, validate, and test government AI systems.
• • The bill’s parliamentary timetable remained uncertain.

Source evidence

Confidence 99% / Completeness 95%

What we captured

Governor Kathy Hochul signed Executive Order 62 on July 14, 2026, temporarily pausing certain New York Department of Environmental Conservation permits and approvals associated with data centers capable of using at least 50 megawatts of electricity while the state develops environmental standards and a regulatory framework.

• • Executive Order 62 was signed on July 14, 2026.
• • The order applies to certain discretionary permits and other approvals issued by the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
• • The pause is expected to remain in effect while New York develops environmental standards and a regulatory framework for data centers.

Source evidence

Confidence 96% / Completeness 100%

What we captured

The article says U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu and Nathaniel Moran introduced a bill that would hold AI developers legally responsible for harms caused by their software and require human-controlled shut-off mechanisms. The article does not report passage or enactment.

• • The article dates the bill’s introduction to July but gives no day.
• • The article does not report that the bill passed or took effect.

Source evidence

Confidence 80% / Completeness 95%