Feb. 26, 2025

The Tension Between Data Scraping and Data Protection in an AI-Driven World

While data scraping is not a new phenomenon, the use of it – especially on publicly accessible websites, including social media platforms – to drive the training of general-purpose AI models requires the activity to occur on an unprecedented scale. In this guest article, London-based Ropes & Gray partner Rohan Massey and trainee solicitor Cameron Grabowski explore the legal landscape applicable to data scaping in the E.U. and U.S., discuss possible scraping defenses and offer practical takeaways. See our two-part series on scraping battles: “Meta Loses Legal Effort to Halt Harvesting of Personal Profiles” (Feb. 21, 2024), and “Global Privacy Regulators Urge Safeguards to Stop Data Scraping” (Mar. 6, 2024).

Former NIST Leader Discusses Data Governance As Master Key to a Trio of Frameworks

AI’s rise has tested companies’ governance structures and efforts to manage risks – leaving them hungry for guides to cut through the challenges. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) began developing its Data Governance and Management Profile (DGM Profile) in mid‑2024 to help organizations use its privacy, cybersecurity and AI frameworks in harmony. Naomi Lefkovitz led development of NIST’s Privacy Framework and helped initiate the DGM Profile. She left the agency in October 2024, after 12 years, and started Strategai Consulting. The Cybersecurity Law Report spoke to Lefkovitz about the central role of data in NIST’s three frameworks, the inspiration for the DGM Profile and how companies might overcome tensions to successfully establish unified governance of data and digital operations for the era of widespread AI use. See “AI Governance: Striking the Balance Between Innovation, Ethics and Accountability” (Feb. 12, 2025).

Survey Finds Increased Awareness of the Value of a Culture of Compliance

The compliance function is all-too-often viewed only as a cost center, with compliance professionals left out of the business conversation. There are opportunities for them to reintroduce themselves to leadership, however, and redefine their roles and how they are perceived within their organizations, the 2025 Compliance Leadership Redefined survey conducted by FTI Consulting and Ethico reveals. Compliance professionals have an opportunity to break the stigma of being seen as the “office of no” and become integral parts of the business, FTI managing directors said in a program discussing the survey findings. This article distills the key takeaways from the survey report and the speakers’ insights. See “Compliance 5.0: A Culture-Centered Approach” (Jan. 31, 2024).

Digital and Technology Partner Joins Manatt in New York

Vejay Lalla has joined Manatt, Phelps & Phillips’ digital and technology transactions team in New York. He arrives from Fenwick & West. For insights from Manatt, see “Examining Utah’s Pioneering State AI Law” (Apr. 3, 2024); and “Checklist Covering CSRB Recommendations on Five Areas for Strengthening Cyber Defenses” (Mar. 27, 2024).