Breaking news

EU Approves Provisional Rollout Of Mercosur Trade Deal From May 1

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

The European Union announced the provisional rollout of the interim EU-Mercosur trade agreement, marking the final procedural step following the Council’s decision on January 9. Notification was sent to Paraguay, which serves as the legal custodian of Mercosur treaties.

Temporary Measures Take Effect

Under the transitional arrangement, provisional application will begin on May 1 for the EU and Mercosur countries that complete ratification and notify the bloc by the end of March. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay have already fulfilled these requirements. Paraguay has also ratified the agreement and is expected to submit its notification shortly.

Enhanced Trade And Investment Opportunities

From the start of implementation, selected goods will benefit from tariff elimination, creating clearer and more predictable conditions for trade and investment. Businesses, consumers and farmers in the EU are expected to see early benefits, while safeguards remain in place for sensitive sectors. Additional details for exporters are available through the Access2Markets platform.

Strengthening Global Cooperation

According to the European Commission, the agreement will also support cooperation on issues such as labour standards and climate policy. Stronger coordination is expected to improve supply chain stability and ensure more reliable access to key raw materials.

Temporary Measures Take Effect

Under the transitional arrangement, the agreement will be applied provisionally from May 1 for the EU and all Mercosur countries that complete their ratification processes and notify the EU by the end of March. Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay have already met these conditions, while Paraguay has recently ratified the agreement and is expected to dispatch its notification shortly.

Enhanced Trade And Investment Opportunities

From the start of implementation, selected goods will benefit from tariff elimination, creating clearer and more predictable conditions for trade and investment. Businesses, consumers and farmers in the EU are expected to see early benefits, while safeguards remain in place for sensitive sectors. Additional details for exporters are available through the Access2Markets platform.

Strengthening Global Cooperation

According to the European Commission, the agreement will also support cooperation on issues such as labour standards and climate policy. Stronger coordination is expected to improve supply chain stability and ensure more reliable access to key raw materials.

Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Limits State Claims Over Children’s Data

by News Editor

Meta’s $18 billion settlement with attorneys general from 29 U.S. states includes a provision limiting future state claims over the company’s use of children’s data for age-assurance systems.

Under the agreement, Meta must develop, train and begin testing a system to identify users under 13 within a year of the settlement taking effect. The company already uses AI-based age-detection tools, although the agreement does not require the new system to use AI.

States Agree To Limits On Future Claims

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally restricts the collection and retention of personal data from children under 13. Under the settlement, the 29 state attorneys general agreed not to bring past, present or future claims under COPPA or similar state laws over the specified use of children’s data.

Meta will not be permitted to use information from users under 13 for advertising, marketing or algorithmic optimisation.

Federal Enforcement Remains Unclear

COPPA is primarily enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which is not a party to the agreement. That leaves open the possibility of separate federal action over how Meta collects or uses children’s data.

Another issue is whether Meta can keep age-assurance data isolated from its other systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance, but the settlement does not fully specify what data Meta can retain for training, how long it can be stored or whether derived insights can be used elsewhere.

Legal Risks Remain

Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan, said states could still pursue claims if Meta uses the data outside the settlement’s limits. Such cases could depend on how those limits are interpreted.

Peter Jackson, a data and intellectual property attorney at Greenberg Glusker, said the provision could “disincentivize future enforcement actions.”

The agreement gives Meta greater legal certainty around using children’s data for age assurance, but questions remain over federal enforcement, data retention and secondary use.

Uol
Aretilaw firm
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
eCredo

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter