What the 2026 midterm results and new balance or power in Washington could mean for ecommerce

After the Midterms: What Tuesday’s Elections Could Mean for Ecommerce

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

November 5, 2026

Tuesday’s midterm elections will bring a new balance of power to Washington in January. Democrats will hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, and voters in several states also reshaped their legislatures. For ecommerce merchants, the change will shape how lawmakers approach AI and consumer messaging and the litigation abuse that increasingly comes with them. Here is what happened and what it could mean for online businesses.…

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EIA Expands Board of Directors with Ten New Members as Industry Steps Up Collective Fight on Policy

EIA Expands Board of Directors with Ten New Members as Industry Steps Up Collective Fight on Policy

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

October 15, 2026

Leaders from Klaviyo, Steve Madden, The Wonderful Company, LendingTree, Kitsch, Bombas and more join as EIA builds on a string of legislative, regulatory and legal wins. They will serve on an established board alongside founding members from Postscript, Ridge Wallet and Tushy. The expansion reflects how much EIA has accomplished since it was formed in 2023. It also reflects a shared view across the industry that individual brands cannot keep up with this policy environment alone. Ecommerce companies need an organized, collective voice. …

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Shopify’s 2026 Entrepreneur Effect report

$688 Billion and 2.3 Million Jobs: What Shopify’s New Report Says About the American Entrepreneur Economy

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

October 14, 2026

Shopify’s 2026 Entrepreneur Effect report puts a number on the ripple effects of independent commerce. More than half of the global total lands in the United States, and the state-level data tells an even more interesting story. The top-line figure is big: for the year ending June 30, 2026, Shopify’s merchant and partner ecosystem generated more than $1.2 trillion in global economic activity and supported more than 9.6 million jobs worldwide.…

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In Daniel Human v. Fisher Investments, court holds Serial TCPA plaintiff and his lawyer on the hook for costs of defending a fraudulent lawsuit.

Court Holds Serial TCPA Plaintiff — and His Lawyer — on the Hook for the Full Cost of Defending a Fraudulent Lawsuit

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

October 9, 2026

For years, ecommerce brands have watched a cottage industry of serial TCPA plaintiffs turn marketing compliance into a settlement business. A new order out of the Eastern District of Missouri shows what can happen when a defendant refuses to pay up — and when a court is willing to look past the complaint to the conduct behind it. On Sept 30th, Judge Schelp ordered that Fisher Investments is entitled to recover all of the reasonable attorney’s fees it spent defending against a TCPA lawsuit the court found was brought “in complete bad faith.” Just as notable: the plaintiff’s attorney and his law firm are jointly and severally liable for the entire award.…

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NYC Council Weighs AI Rules That Would Reach Every Brand That Texts Its Customers

NYC Council Weighs AI Rules That Would Reach Every Brand That Texts Its Customers

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

October 6, 2026

On Oct 5th, the New York City Council’s Committee of the Whole, chaired by Speaker Julie Menin and Co-Chair Carmen De La Rosa, held an oversight hearing on the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Alongside it, the Committee heard ten AI-related bills. Five of them would regulate how private businesses use and talk about AI. EIA President and CEO David Carter testified on behalf of EIA members, including roughly 20,000 brands, mostly small and mid-size businesses, that serve New Yorkers every day. …

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California Requires Disclosures for AI-Generated Performers in Video and Audio Ads

California Requires Disclosures for AI-Generated Performers in Video and Audio Ads

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

October 5, 2026

California is putting new disclosure rules around a growing advertising trend: the use of realistic AI-generated people and voices to sell products and services. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1050 on September 16, making California the second state after New York to require disclosures when certain advertisements use AI-generated “synthetic performers.” The new California law takes effect January 1, 2027.…

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