Artificial intelligence is often cast as having a “safety crisis,” with warnings that it is advancing without oversight, accountability, or guardrails. A broader view suggests that what is unfolding is part of a familiar...more
2/11/2026
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Emerging Technologies ,
Executive Orders ,
Government Agencies ,
Innovative Technology ,
Machine Learning ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently filed a civil enforcement action against industrial tool manufacturer Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. that provides an early look at how consumer product safety cases will be handled...more
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced a significant strategic shift: the agency plans to use artificial intelligence in overseeing consumer product safety. Moving beyond its traditional...more
10/24/2025
/ Algorithms ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Automated Decision Systems (ADS) ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Machine Learning ,
Predictive Analytics ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Risk Management ,
Social Media ,
Supply Chain
California set a new baseline for transparency in “frontier” AI this week. On September 29, 2025, Governor Newsom signed SB 53, Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act (“TFAIA” or the “Law”). According to the...more
10/2/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
California ,
New Legislation ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
State and Local Government ,
Transparency ,
Whistleblowers
On August 5, 2025, Royal Sovereign International, Inc. reached a civil and criminal resolution with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that includes a $16.025 million civil penalty—the maximum authorized under the...more
9/11/2025
/ Consumer Product Companies ,
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Corporate Crimes ,
Criminal Penalties ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Manufacturers ,
Penalties ,
Product Recalls ,
Reporting Requirements
Following two months of legal chaos, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) appears to be charting a new course for consumer protection policy. On August 20, 2025, Acting Chairman Peter A. Feldman of CPSC issued a...more
8/29/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Final Rules ,
Proposed Rules ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Removal For-Cause ,
Rulemaking Process ,
SCOTUS ,
Trump Administration
Capping off two months of legal drama, the Supreme Court has stayed the ruling of U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox, which ordered the immediate reinstatement of the three U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)...more
7/31/2025
/ Administrative Agencies ,
Appeals ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Executive Authority ,
Government Agencies ,
Judicial Authority ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
SCOTUS ,
Stays ,
Trump Administration
The White House released on July 23, 2025, Winning the Race: America’s AI Action Plan (“AI Action Plan”) pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14179, Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial...more
7/29/2025
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Bias ,
Cybersecurity ,
Data Centers ,
Deep Fake ,
Deregulation ,
Energy Consumption ,
Executive Orders ,
Export Controls ,
FCC ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Infrastructure ,
International Trade ,
National Security ,
NIST ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Semiconductors ,
Trump Administration ,
U.S. Commerce Department
The fired U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Democrats are back in their seats and stirring the pot, prompting the Trump administration to make an emergency plea to the Supreme Court for relief. What started as...more
7/17/2025
/ Administrative Agencies ,
Administrative Procedure ,
Appeals ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Executive Authority ,
Government Agencies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Judicial Authority ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
SCOTUS ,
Trump Administration
As noted in our recent client alert, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) continues to aggressively pursue enforcement actions for violations of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) against foreign...more
7/1/2025
/ China ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Agencies ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
Product Recalls ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements
A recent lawsuit involving an AI chatbot represents another indication of a possible shift in how courts will approach software under traditional strict products liability principles. Traditionally, courts have been hesitant...more
6/19/2025
/ AI Act ,
Algorithms ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Bots ,
Class Action ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Design Defects ,
Liability ,
Motion to Dismiss ,
Popular ,
Product Defects ,
Software ,
Strict Product Liability
Consumer product companies are facing unprecedented scrutiny as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) intensifies its regulatory oversight. With heightened civil penalties, increased monitoring of e-commerce...more
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a petition challenging a rule promulgated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banning small, high-powered, separable magnets. Upholding CPSC’s rule, the Tenth...more
The three Democratic commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) who President Trump fired two weeks ago will not go down without a fight. Earlier this week they sued the president, arguing his unilateral...more
5/27/2025
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Appeals ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Agencies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Judicial Authority ,
OMB ,
Presidential Appointments ,
SCOTUS ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Termination ,
Trump Administration
In April 2025, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce unanimously approved the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. The Act, if it is enacted, would convert current voluntary standards ANSI/CAN/UL...more
In a dramatic shake-up at the Consumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC), President Trump has ousted three of its five commissioners, leaving the agency with distinctly Republican leadership. Commissioners Richard Trumka, Mary...more
California has changed its definition of electric bicycles to clarify ambiguities about the use of throttles. Since their first introduction in the 1990s, electric bicycles, or e-bikes, have grown tremendously in popularity...more
5/7/2025
/ Bicycles ,
California ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Electric Vehicles ,
Manufacturers ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Safety Standards ,
State and Local Government
This third installment in our series highlights the focus on children’s product safety at the 2025 International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) symposium. This year’s symposium featured a range of...more
The Trump administration may eliminate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), according to a recently leaked draft fiscal year 2026 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This “pre-decisional”...more
This second installment of our series highlights the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) presence and guidance at this year’s ICPHSO annual symposium. CPSC had a notably smaller presence this year. Agency...more
Every year at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO)’s annual symposium in Orlando, stakeholders, regulators, and other industry members gather to discuss emerging trends and issues around...more
On December 19, 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) unilaterally issued a warning to consumers to stop using Sport Nets 4’ x 8’ portable soccer goals. According to CPSC, an exposed metal tip at the top of the...more
2/19/2025
/ Consumer Product Companies ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Hazardous Substances ,
Manufacturers ,
Product Defects ,
Product Recalls ,
Regulatory Agencies ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Safety Standards
Continuing the Zen Magnets saga, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) faces a challenge to a rule banning products containing small, high-powered, separable magnets. CPSC has asserted that these kinds of small,...more
In recent years, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has increased pressure on consumer product companies through various enforcement mechanisms. The increase in the frequency and amount of civil penalties sought by...more
2/19/2025
/ Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Consumer Product Companies ,
Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement ,
Product Defects ,
Product Recalls ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Reporting Requirements ,
Safety Standards
At the end of last year, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) approved an Operating Plan for Fiscal Year 2025, which includes CPSC’s strategic priorities and resource allocations for the coming year. Stated...more
2/19/2025
/ Baby Products ,
Batteries ,
Children's Toys ,
Compliance ,
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) ,
Digital Platforms ,
E-Commerce ,
Enforcement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Manufacturers ,
Online Marketplace ,
Popular ,
Safety Standards ,
State Attorneys General