INSIDE COMPLIANCE – Page 4 – Loyola University Chicago School of Law

Evolving Technology in Law Enforcement: Concerns and Solutions

April 23, 2026Regulation, technology

Facial recognition technology has become widespread in consumer and commercial environments, and particularly law enforcement. Despite numerous benefits, these systems raise great concerns about privacy and data protection. The current legal frameworks are not strong enough to effectively manage the risks. No federal laws currently exist to regulate the use of facial recognition technology. Instead, enforcement is left to the states. Without aggressive state initiatives, use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement will continue unabated. This will result in data collection mired in algorithmic bias and will result in a complete disregard of civil liberties.

AIFacial Recognitionlaw enforcement

Hidden Ingredients: The Urgent Need to Regulate Microplastics in What We Eat and Drink

April 23, 2026EPA, Regulation

Carolyn Nsimpasi

Associate Editor

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2026

A toothbrush. Gum. Polyester clothing. All these items contain tiny plastic fragments known as microplastics, and even smaller nanoplastics. These particles are so small that they slip through water filtration systems, drift through the air, and accumulate in the food and beverages we consume daily. What was once considered a distant environmental issue has now increasingly become a direct human health concern, one that demands urgent regulation.

#microplastics#nanoplasticsEPARegulation

Slack, Teams, and WhatsApp: The Expanding Scope of Business Records in Digital Communication

April 21, 2026Regulation

The definition of a “business record” has evolved significantly in response to the proliferation of digital communication platforms. Historically, organizations focused on formal documentation, such as emails, signed contracts, and official reports, as the primary sources of recordkeeping. However, the widespread adoption of real-time messaging tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and WhatsApp has fundamentally altered how business decisions are communicated and documented. Messages that include approvals, negotiations, instructions, or the exchange of sensitive information may all qualify as business records. Consequently, organizations must broaden their conceptualization of recordkeeping to include informal and semi-formal communication channels alike, as technology and record keeping mechanisms are quickly expanding.

Digital Age PrivacyDigital Content RegulationDigital SecurityEvidenceRecordsSEC

New Bill Introduced to End Special Treatment of Congress Members at the Airport

April 20, 2026Transportation

The ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has caused widespread disruption for travelers. Wait times have been record breaking due to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) staffing shortages. A new bill has been passed in the Senate to end special treatment for members of Congress who can currently bypass these long lines. While the legislation may ignore the root issue of long wait times for travelers and short staffing for TSA agents, it highlights the growing public demand for fairness and accountability in our nation’s government.

AirportCongressDHSsafetyTravelTSA

Own Thyself: IP and competition issues in modern Name Image and Likeness claims

April 16, 2026Antitrust, Athletic Regulation, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Sports, Uncategorized

Name. Image. Likeness. Three words which, when taken together, evoke increasingly complex meanings. Recently, a number of high profile cases have spotlighted the growing concerns over the meaning and implications of “self” ownership, a concept traditionally lying at the intersection of intellectual property and tort law, connections to privacy law, as well recently implicated issues of antitrust-competition and emerging technology (i.e. AI) regulation.

In an ever-evolving and interconnected technological landscape, issues of Name Image and Likeness (NIL) reveal broad and far reaching implications for today’s courts and regulators. From the scope of traditionally limited contracts to licensing to perpetual ownership and indefinite use, state regulation and limited judicial decisions may finally prove insufficient for the task at hand. However, new applications combined with time-tested legal tools may help even the playing field, both by protecting competition and preventing exploitation.

Recent cases in the sports and entertainment industries (NCAA and SAAG-AFTRA) validate the importance of modern-regulation as a supplement to less-than-binding jurisprudence. While U.S. federal agencies have expressed interest and states have individually taken important steps toward governing NIL controversies, countries like England, France, Spain, Italy and Germany offer clear, robust protections, benefits which U.S. lawmakers and regulators should carefully consider.

Antitrustintellectual propertyNCAASAAG-AFTRA

Cooking in the Dark: The Rise and Fall of Ghost Kitchens

April 15, 2026FDA, Regulation

Online food delivery is a growing industry worth over $240 billion, serving consumers who appreciate eating their favorite meals from the comfort of their home. Ghost kitchens are one way restaurant entrepreneurs are taking advantage of this growing market. Ghost kitchens operate as takeout and delivery only venues, needing only a fraction of traditional restaurant space to operate. Today there are over 7,000 businesses in the ghost kitchen industry in the United States. This model was embraced by celebrities like Mr. Beast and large restaurant chains, including Chili’s, and was particularly popular during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these kitchens operate in the dark, they are still responsible for complying with food quality and safety rules like traditional restaurants. However, this has proven to be difficult and resulted in closures – and even lawsuits. Ghost kitchens require greater investigation and monitoring from governmental agencies to better meet consumer concerns.

FDAfood regulations

The Rise of Compounding: Why Section 503A Should Be Strengthened

April 15, 2026FDA

The popularity of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 drugs) such as Ozempic and Wegovy has transformed the market for weight-loss medications in the United States. Originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, these drugs are now widely prescribed for weight management. However, demand has created nationwide shortages, prompting compounding pharmacies to produce customized versions of GLP-1 medications intended to replicate FDA-approved medications. In practice, however, this has enabled the rapid expansion of compounded GLP-1 drugs that mimic highly popular brand-name medications. Evidence of contamination, dosing errors, and serious adverse events linked to these products suggests that the current regulatory framework does not sufficiently protect consumers. Given these risks, Section 503A should be strengthened to prohibit pharmacies from producing copies of commercially available GLP-1 drugs altogether, even during shortages.

President Donald Trump’s Call to Reclassify Medical Marijuana, What’s Changed?

April 14, 2026DEA, Department of Justice

Last December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to expedite the reclassification of marijuana to a Schedule III drug. Currently, marijuana is listed as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA), making it federally illegal to sell, distribute, or possess. This classificationsignificantly limits the ability to undertake scientific and medical research on marijuana and the extent to which medical professionals and individuals can make informed decisions concerning its use. Regardless of this prohibition, 40 states and the District of Columbia have state or locally sanctioned medical marijuana, and a majority of the American public (64%) believes that marijuana should be legalized. The impediment of necessary research, the public support for legalizing the substance, and the potential economic and medical benefits have led President Trump’s call to reclassify it. Reclassification will likely support the marijuana industry while simultaneously benefiting American health care.

Executive Ordersmarijuana

Restoring Consumer Control: The FTC’s Push to Regulate Negative Option Practices

April 13, 2026FTC

Kendall Henry Associate Editor Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD 2027 Every time a consumer enrolls in a 30-day free trial for a streaming service and fails to cancel before the trial ends, the streaming service automatically charges a fee for the subscription. This automatic renewal practice is an example of a “negative …
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#rule#transactionsconsumersFTCMarketing

Navigating Oil: Corporate Strategy in a Volatile Market

April 7, 2026International Affairs, National Security, Regulation

On February 28, 2026, a conflict involving the United States and Iran began when coordinated airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure took place. In response, the Iranian military launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes targeting U.S. bases and U.S. allied countries Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Alongside these military strikes, the Iranian government has taken de facto control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway in the Middle East that borders Iran. The strait connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is a key export pathway for oil and gas to many countries across the world. It is estimated that 20% of the world’s oil supply flows through the strait. With exports through the strait now significantly disrupted, global energy markets have begun to experience a sharp supply shock. Corporations, particularly in the energy, transportation, and manufacturing sectors, are now facing heightened regulatory scrutiny and compliance risk as they attempt to navigate significant cost pressures and operational uncertainty.