In our annual “Look Back, Look Forward” edition of The Data Chronicles, Scott Loughlin and Eduardo Ustaran, co-leads of Hogan Lovells’ Global Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity practice, reflect on the most important developments in privacy, cybersecurity, and data regulation in 2025 and share their outlook for 2026. It has become the most popular episode of the year, drawing strong interest from listeners across regions and sectors.

The conversation covers the global impact of artificial intelligence, evolving regulatory priorities in the UK, EU, and US, and the ongoing balance between innovation and regulation. Topics include potential GDPR reform, biometrics and age verification, geopolitics and data protection, international data transfers, and the growing focus on AI governance and children’s data.

What can businesses expect from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on privacy and data enforcement as we move into 2026? In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Cobun Zweifel-Keegan, Managing Director at the IAPP, for a practical year-end review of the FTC’s 2025 enforcement priorities and what they signal for the year ahead.

Together, Scott and Cobun break down how a change in administration reshaped the agency’s focus this year, with heightened attention on children’s and teens’ privacy, COPPA enforcement, cross-platform data collection, and growing concerns around the sale of Americans’ sensitive information to foreign adversary countries. They also discuss the FTC’s evolving view of privacy as both a consumer protection and national security issue.

The conversation also covers the operational and strategic impact of the FTC operating with only two sitting commissioners, and how today’s enforcement posture compares with the more aggressive approach under the prior administration.

India has taken a major step in reshaping its digital future. After years of drafts and debate, the country has finalized the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) and issued detailed rules that bring the law fully to life. With implementation now scheduled over the next 18 months, organizations have clear timelines and a more definitive view of the significant compliance work ahead. 

In this episode, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Stephen Mathias, partner and head of the Bangalore office at Kochhar & Company, and Hogan Lovells partner Charmian Aw, who leads the Hogan Lovells APAC Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity practice. Together, they discuss the core features of India’s new law, including its consent-based framework, extraterritorial reach, and parallels with the EU GDPR. 

The conversation covers the key steps companies should be taking now, from redesigning data architecture and consent flows to assessing breach response readiness. The episode also explores global business implications, enforcement expectations, and how the DPDPA fits into the broader regional privacy landscape. 

Whether you’re operating in India or serving customers there, this discussion offers practical insights on what’s changing, why it matters, and how to prepare.

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Data Security Program is reshaping how companies manage cross-border data activities. This episode of The Data Chronicles breaks down what the rule does, why it was created, and the types of transactions it restricts or prohibits—from data brokerage to vendor access to bulk genomic data.

Host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells partner James Denvil and associate Lorea Mendiguren to walk through the rule’s core elements and the open questions around implementation, risk, and compliance. They share practical insights from advising companies in e-commerce, health, and life sciences as they adjust to this new national-security-driven framework.

In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells partners Eduardo Ustaran and Charmian Aw to examine how regulators are rethinking the relationship between AI, innovation, and privacy. They discuss why many regulators view data protection rules not as obstacles, but as guardrails that can support responsible AI development through tools like impact assessments, transparency, and data minimization.

Eduardo shares insights from the Global Privacy Assembly, which brought together more than 140 data protection authorities from over 90 countries for regulator-led discussions on AI in daily life, cross-border data transfers, children’s privacy, privacy-enhancing technologies, and other issues shaping global enforcement trends. Charmian, who leads the firm’s Asia-Pacific Data, Privacy and Cybersecurity team, adds an APAC perspective with takeaways from the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum and the region’s growing push for interoperability in data transfers and enforcement cooperation.

We also highlight the launch of our Asia Pacific Privacy Legislation Tracker, a new tool that compares privacy requirements across APAC jurisdictions designed to support companies in navigating the region’s evolving data protection landscape.

How are U.S. states shaping the future of artificial intelligence? In this episode of The Data Chronicles, we unpack The State of State AI, the latest report from the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) analyzing more than 200 AI-related bills introduced across 42 states. 

Host Scott Loughlin is joined by Justine Gluck, a policy analyst at FPF, to discuss how lawmakers are shifting toward targeted, transparency-driven regulation, focusing on areas such as healthcare, chatbot use, liability frameworks, and innovation sandboxes, rather than pursuing a single sweeping national approach. Together, they explore how these trends signal where AI policymaking is headed and what it means for developers, deployers, and consumers.

In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin welcomes Adam Smith, Regulatory Lead – Cybersecurity at Southwest Airlines, to explore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity in the transportation sector.

Together, they fly through the real-world stakes of protecting critical infrastructure – from airports and railways to the systems that underpin national security. The conversation unpacks the complexity of regulatory frameworks, the challenges of incident response, and the vital role of collaboration among regulators, operators, and vendors.

Across the globe, governments are rethinking how to keep kids safe online. New laws in the UK and the U.S. are driving a wave of age verification and content regulation measures that could reshape how young people experience the internet and how platforms operate.

In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells associates, Rob Fett and Georgia Crawford from London, and Sophie Bohm from Colorado, to unpack the UK’s Online Safety Act, the growing patchwork of U.S. state laws, and the complex balance between safety, privacy, and free expression. Together, they explore whether these new rules truly protect children or simply shift the burden to users and platforms.

Discover how the latest U.S. health tech initiative is transforming patient data access and interoperability. In this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells partner Melissa Bianchi to discuss the drive toward seamless digital health records, the rise of public-private partnerships, and the future of secure digital identity in healthcare. They explore what these developments mean for patients, providers, and technology innovators, and why now is the time to prepare for the next era of health information.

Like many others, you have been scammed. Is all hope lost? Maybe not. 

On this episode of The Data Chronicles, host Scott Loughlin is joined by Hogan Lovells colleagues, Lauren Berkebile and Byron Phillips, to break down today’s most common online fraud schemes and what to do if your organization gets hit.

They trace the shift from the internet’s initial gift card scams to today’s highly targeted wire-fraud campaigns powered by deepfakes, polished phishing, and social engineering. You’ll hear how criminals stage fake transactions over Zoom, why C-suite leaders are targeted, and the first moves that can help you recover funds.

Whether you have been scammed before and are trying to heighten your defenses or you are planning for how to respond to a future scam, this episode will be a great resource.