First 100 Days: Upcoming Regulatory Signals for Tech, Media & Telecom

Regulatory Pullback

Implementation of Executive Order to “pause” new rulemaking

White House

Withdrawal of proposals (e.g., bulk billing, infrastructure builds

FCC Statement here and here

Potential consideration of changes to final rules not yet effective (e.g., COPPA amendments)

FTC Chair Statement

Potential review of current proposals (e.g., CISA Incident Reporting, CFPB RFI on Collection, Use and Monetization of Consumer Payment and Other Personal Financial Data)

Potential review, modification, suspension, or recission of policies, directives, regulations, orders taken pursuant to Executive Order 14110 (2023 AI EO) determined to be inconsistent with the priorities of the new Administration (e.g., economic competitiveness, national security)

White House

National Security Focus

Under “America-First” agenda, likely continued/expanded use of tariffs, sanctions and/or bans (e.g., China, Russia) inclusive of sector-specific and tech-related actions. Areas of interest may include IP rights, connected products, and investments in national security technologies in other countries)

White House

Investigation Focus

Implementation of Executive Order on free speech and censorship – investigations anticipated regarding perceived social media efforts to “moderate, deplatform or otherwise suppress speech that the Federal Government did not approve”

White House

Potential shift to “evidence of effects” in anti-competition and a focus on procedural requirements to issue administrative complaint with a “reason to believe” (FTC Act Section 5)

Reinstatement of certain investigations; Initial investigations include news/social media content and funding

FTC Statement

State Activity

Expect continued and active state efforts to introduce and enforce laws on technology, media, and telecommunications policy as well as increasing potential for regulatory divergence (global/federal/state), including in areas such as data privacy protections (e.g., consent, sensitive data), AI development/deployment, and antitrust

AI

Implementation of Executive Order on Removing Barriers to American Leadership in AI

Naming of Special Advisor for AI and Crypto with responsibilities for overseeing regulatory frameworks, collaboration with officials and stakeholders, including PCAST, and alignment of AI priorities with administration policies

Development of a new Artificial Intelligence Action Plan by July 22, 2025

White House Actions here and here

Focus on advanced AI cyber defense programs at federal level for energy and defense (2025 Executive Order 14144 remains in place)

EO 14144

Cyber

Executive Orders (14144 and 14028) on cybersecurity from previous administration remain in place; cybersecurity focus remains on strengthening critical infrastructure and national security

Focus on secure procedures and strong identity authentication and encryption; agencies are strongly encouraged to accept digital identity verification for public benefits programs

EOs 14144 and 14028

Likelihood for reduced size and scope of varying agencies/functions, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee, Statements, Testimony

Uncertainty regarding Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) public/private partnership to review and assess cyber incidents (note: previous membership disbanded by DHS acting director)

Media Reports

Data & Privacy

Uncertainty on final rule on bulk sensitive data handling by U.S. companies, due to “regulatory freeze” on previous administration’s rules

White House

Restrictions persist on transactions around foreign-connected hardware and software collecting data on U.S. consumers (e.g., Department of Commerce rule on self-driving cars) to protect against potential national security and sensitive consumer data risks (biometric/geolocation))

DOC

Potential to revisit recent COPPA amendments re: parental consent, indefinite data retention, age verification-related data collection

FTC Chair Statement

Potential for increasing divergence between federal/global/state expectations and requirements regarding data and privacy

Public Access/ Funding

Support for court ruling against previous administration’s net neutrality rules

Commissioner’s statement

Uncertainty on broadband (BEAD) program funding broadband access and deployment, due to pause on funds from Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Reassessment of government grants/investments more broadly, with a focus on cost efficiency and adherence to contract terms

White House EO

Content Moderation

Investigations anticipated regarding social media perceived to have “moderate[d]. deplatform[ed] or otherwise suppress[ed] speech” during previous administration

White House EO

Reports and industry announcements of pre-emptive adjustments to content moderation practices in anticipation of potential Administration/agency policy shifts

Media Reports