Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
7th September 2026
 
THE HOT STORY
Musk loses court bid to block AI ‘nudification’ ban
Elon Musk’s xAI has failed to block Minnesota from enforcing its law banning the use of AI tools for generating nonconsensual nude images. The state’s first-of-its-kind law prohibits websites, apps, and software programs from allowing users to generate nonconsensual fake nude images or videos with AI. Advertising such services is also prohibited. The law went into effect on August 1st, and imposes civil penalties of up to $500,000 for each unlawful access, download, or use. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a Democrat, said the state's ​law was "overwhelmingly bipartisan and nearly ​unanimously approved" by state ⁠lawmakers. He added: "These nudification apps have been used to generate child sexual abuse materials and harass people in the vilest ways imaginable . . . That repulsive behavior is not welcome in Minnesota."
FIRMS
Billionaire attorney defends firm's work-from-home policy
Billionaire attorney John Morgan has defended his personal injury firm Morgan & Morgan’s controversial work-from-home policy, which includes monitoring employees with cameras and productivity tracking. Describing on a podcast how the arrangement was introduced at America's largest injury law firm, Morgan said: "Here's what we're going to do. You can work from home, but guess what? We're going to put a camera on your computer. We're going to put a camera up your ass." He said 23 employees left within the first week.
LAW
Congress urged to quickly pass law banning Chinese cars
The Alliance for ‌Automotive Innovation has called on Congress to pass ​legislation permanently barring Chinese vehicles from the U.S. market before the end of the year. "Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world," the group's CEO John Bozzella wrote in a letter to Congress. "This hasn’t happened inside the U.S. yet, but given the scale and urgency of this threat, we ​urge you to enact a Chinese vehicle, software and hardware ban before adjourning this year and ⁠make this policy the law of the land." The alliance represents General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda, Stellantis and other major automakers.
LAWSUITS
SEC sues proxy adviser ISS
The Securities and Exchange Commission has sued shareholder advisory firm ISS over non-compliance with subpoenas. The agency said ISS has not produced all requested material but has not concluded that securities laws were violated. The lawsuit comes amid broader federal scrutiny of proxy advisers following a December executive order from President Donald Trump. 
Patagonia joins legal challenge against Trump’s Utah national monument reductions
Outdoor retailer Patagonia has joined a coalition of Native American and environmental groups in legal action against the Trump administration over executive orders reducing the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah by more than 90%. The company is seeking to reopen lawsuits originally filed in 2017, arguing that the reductions are illegal, undermine Tribal sovereignty and could open previously protected federal land to oil drilling, uranium mining and other development. Patagonia said public lands are critical to the $1.2tn outdoor industry and has called for support for the Tribal groups and organizations seeking to protect the monuments.
Newspapers sue OpenAI and Microsoft
The Seattle Times and Newsday have sued OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming that the tech companies ​copied their journalism without permission to train their AI systems. The ​newspapers allege the ⁠companies' AI products can reproduce passages from their reporting and ​provide users with answers that reduce the need to visit their websites or buy ​subscriptions. They want the destruction of any copies of their works the companies are holding, as well as training datasets and AI models that incorporate them. "We feel strongly that we must defend our content - which we spend millions of dollars a year to produce - from being used without our consent or compensation," Seattle Times President and CEO ​Alan Fisco wrote to staff. The suit was filed ‌in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Starbucks anti-unionization case narrowed by appeals court
Reuters reports that a federal appeals court has declined to enforce most of a National Labor Relations Board ruling that Starbucks illegally threatened ​staff with reprisals for seeking to unionize. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a 2-0 decision, dismissed claims that the coffee chain violated federal labor law when management at a Wichita, Kansas, store told ​staff they closed their hiring portal and reduced hours because of union or ​other protected activities. The court upheld a finding that the retailer illegally ⁠threatened to deny maternity leave benefits to a pregnant employee if workers unionized.
INTERNATIONAL
Belgium seizes €65m in French McKinsey tax fraud investigation
Belgian authorities have seized €65m ($76m) in a French probe into suspected ‌aggravated tax fraud and money laundering involving U.S.-based consulting firm McKinsey, which said ​it was cooperating with French authorities and ⁠denied any wrongdoing. "We reaffirm that we are ​committed to complying with our tax obligations ​in France and in every country that we operate in. We remain fully focused on serving our clients ​in France and continue to do so ​to the highest professional standards," McKinsey said.
Brazilian judge drawn deeper into Banco Master scandal
Brazilian Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes faces further scrutiny over alleged ties to Banco Master after text messages were published from the bank's former owner, Daniel Vorcaro. The messages  allegedly show Vorcaro asking Moraes whether he should leave Brazil amid a mounting investigation into fraud claims at the lender. Moraes has previously denied links to Vorcaro; opponents accuse him of having a close relationship with the banker. “There are many serious allegations, and I truly hope he explains them,” said Flávio Bolsonaro, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s top challenger in October’s presidential election. “If he fails to do so and these suspicions that are coming to light are proven, he has absolutely no grounds to remain a Supreme Court justice.”
Sharpeville massacre survivors file class action lawsuit
More than 60 years after the Sharpeville massacre, which saw police gun down protesters, survivors and families are launching a class-action lawsuit against the South African government. The case challenges the 1961 Indemnity Act, which has prevented victims from seeking compensation for the police shooting that killed at least 69 people during a protest against apartheid pass laws. Abram Mofokeng, a survivor of the shooting, said: “It is not possible to forget what happened in 1960.” The plaintiffs aim to overturn the Indemnity Act, arguing it violates their constitutional rights, and seek to address the inadequate reparations provided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Dan Leader from Leigh Day described the case as part of South Africa's “unfinished business,” amid the continuing need for a reckoning with apartheid-era abuses.
OTHER
Older adults outnumber the youngest children worldwide
A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that last year, the global population of people aged 65 and over surpassed the number of children under five for the first time in recorded history, and the global population aged 65 and over will rise from 10.5% in 2025 to 19.6% by 2060. The bureau's August 2026 report, An Aging World: 2025, says this demographic shift is occurring more quickly than expected a decade ago and is creating an unprecedented, increasingly “top-heavy” age structure.

 

Legal Slice delivers the latest, most relevant, and useful legal intelligence each weekday morning with intelligence, designed specifically for legal professionals, including attorneys, practice owners, judges, legal scholars, and influencers.

Content is selected to an exacting brief from hundreds of influential media sources and summarised by experienced journalists into an easy-to-read digest email. The links under articles indicate original news sources. Some links lead directly to the source material. Others lead to paywalls where you may need a subscription. A third category are restricted by copyright rules.

For reaction and insights on any stories covered in Legal Slice, join the discussion by becoming a member of our LinkedIn Group or Business Page, or follow us on Twitter.

If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities within Legal Slice, please get in touch via email sales team

Follow us on FacebookFollow us on XFollow us on Linkedin

This e-mail has been sent to [[EMAIL_TO]]

Click here to unsubscribe