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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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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Federal or State AI Regulation Framework? Federal Policy Could Define the Future of Artificial Intelligence Compliance for Ecommerce

One AI Framework or Fifty? Why Federal Policy Could Define the Future of Artificial Intelligence Compliance for Ecommerce

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

March 24, 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is already deeply embedded across e-commerce operations from personalization and product recommendations to marketing, customer service, and fraud prevention. Over the past week, federal policymakers took two steps that could signal a shift in how the United States is approaching artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. But while momentum is clearly building, the path forward remains far from settled.…

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State-by-State AI Laws and Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI) Request to White House

The AI Patchwork Problem: How State-by-State AI Laws Could Complicate Ecommerce

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

March 9, 2026

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming a core technology for e-commerce. From customer service chatbots and marketing automation to fraud detection and inventory forecasting, AI tools are now embedded in many of the systems online businesses rely on to compete and grow. But as AI adoption accelerates, policymakers are facing a key question: who should regulate it?…

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The AI Accountability Act

The AI Accountability Act: Federal Data Misuse Lawsuits and the End of Predispute Arbitration Agreements?

Ecommerce Innovation Alliance

July 29, 2025

The AI Accountability and Personal Data Protection Act (Bill No. S.2367) was introduced on Monday, July 21st by U.S. Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). Released in tandem with President Trump’s “America’s AI Action Plan”, this bipartisan bill purportedly aims to establish guardrails for the AI industry while protecting consumer data rights and creators' intellectual property, but the EIA has serious concerns about the proposed legislation and its potential to lead to increased opportunistic “shakedown” style litigation. …

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