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Hot privacy and data security issues on the Hill for 2026

The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol Building on June 11, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Photo: Kevin Carter/Getty Images

Key enforcement priorities, rule changes, litigation trends, and disclosure expectations shaping the federal privacy and cybersecurity landscape in 2026.

As summer temperatures rise, so too does the heat around federal privacy and cybersecurity enforcement. US Congress may still be struggling to pass a comprehensive federal privacy law, but businesses should not mistake legislative gridlock for regulatory inactivity.

From the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) aggressive focus on children’s privacy and