Home About MLI Firm Rankings Enhance Your Profile e-Zine Methodology

Guide to the Global Leaders in Media Law Practice

REGIONS WE COVER

Middle East and North Africa

North America

Asia-Pacific

Western Europe

Central and Eastern Europe

Artificial Intelligence continues to play a pivotal role in reshaping the media industry, with significant legislative and business developments affecting how content is created, distributed and consumed.

New legislation in California, alongside new collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the Screen Actors Guild and the Animation Guild, has introduced strong protections for creators amid the development of AI. These agreements are intended to ensure fair compensation and protect creative rights amid the rise of AI-powered content production. Such developments are setting an important precedent for how AI will be integrated into content creation going forward, signalling a shift toward safeguarding human input in an increasingly automated industry.

The rise of the creator economy has also led to the introduction of emerging legislation that regulates influencers and content creators. In states including California, Illinois and Minnesota, new laws are being enacted to provide better protections for child participants in the digital media environment. In addition, proposed federal legislation is focussed on addressing misinformation spread by social media influencers. These laws are intended to enhance transparency and increase accountability across digital platforms, helping to create a more responsible and equitable ecosystem for creators, platforms and their audiences.

Meanwhile, TikTok continues to face increasing scrutiny from US lawmakers over national security and free speech concerns. A US ban on the platform took effect in January 2025, lasting 12 hours. The Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission have been actively introducing new regulations that directly impact how cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite operators and broadband providers interact with consumers.

As cybersecurity concerns remain a priority, the Federal Communications Commission has introduced measures to strengthen the security of communications infrastructure. These include more detailed foreign ownership reviews, new equipment labelling standards and efforts to improve the reliability of emergency alert systems and internet routing. Network security is also being bolstered to protect against evolving digital threats.