Tools / Regulatory tracker
InfraCompute Tools · Regulatory tracker
The rules that move the deals.
Export controls decide where GPUs can go, screening decides who can buy them, and grid and planning rules decide when a data centre earns. Each entry gives the status, the key dates, the primary sources and what it means for a financing.
- Regulations
- 30
- Jurisdictions
- 8
- Changed in the last 90 days
- 7
- Key dates ahead
- 9
Recently changed
What moved
26 October 2026 · United States
US outbound investment rules (31 CFR part 850)
Notification or prohibition of US investment in AI and semiconductor businesses in countries of concern; new rules proposed.
In force26 October 2026 · United KingdomCyber Security and Resilience Bill
Brings data centres of 1 MW or more (10 MW for enterprise sites) under the NIS rules, with Ofcom as regulator.
Bill in Parliament9 October 2026 · United StatesExecutive Order 14421: foreign bulk-power system equipment
Prohibits listed transactions in foreign-produced grid equipment, including UPS and backup generators.
In force29 September 2026 · United KingdomNational Planning Policy Framework (September 2026)
The new framework names data centres in plan-making and gives substantial weight to AI Growth Zone proposals.
In force21 September 2026 · European UnionEU data centre energy reporting and rating scheme
Annual reporting for data centres of 500 kW or more; rating scheme proposed September 2026; minimum standards next.
Partly in force17 August 2026 · United KingdomAI Growth Zones
Designated zones with grid connection priority, planning support and a proposed electricity cost discount.
PolicyDiary
Key dates ahead
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2 November 2026 | Cyber Security and Resilience Bill Lords third reading (scheduled) | United Kingdom |
| 7 December 2026 | US outbound investment rules (31 CFR part 850) Comments on the proposed rule due | United States |
| 14 December 2026 | EU data centre energy reporting and rating scheme Minimum standards consultation closes | European Union |
| 1 January 2027 | Energy Efficiency Act: data centre duties 100% renewable electricity | Germany |
| 1 July 2027 | Energy Efficiency Act: data centre duties Existing sites PUE 1.5 | Germany |
| 17 January 2028 | EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation Fully applies | European Union |
| 31 December 2028 | AgNes: reform of electricity network charges Existing network charge rules lapse | Germany |
| 1 July 2030 | Energy Efficiency Act: data centre duties Existing sites PUE 1.3 | Germany |
Everything tracked
By jurisdiction
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United States 12
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Diffusion rule (rescinded) The January 2025 country-tier rule was rescinded in May 2025; BIS said a replacement rule would follow. | Export controls | Rescinded | 13 May 2025 |
| Data Center Validated End User authorisation Pre-approved data centres abroad can receive controlled chips without a licence for each shipment. | Export controls | In force | 2 October 2024 |
| UAE moved to Country Group A:5 Licence-free access to advanced computing items for the UAE Government and approved UAE entities. | Export controls | In force | 10 July 2026 |
| US export controls on advanced AI chips Licences for advanced GPUs to most of the world outside close allies; China moved to case-by-case for H200-class chips. | Export controls | In force | 15 January 2026 |
| US outbound investment rules (31 CFR part 850) Notification or prohibition of US investment in AI and semiconductor businesses in countries of concern; new rules proposed. | Investment screening | In force | 26 October 2026 |
| Executive Order 14421: foreign bulk-power system equipment Prohibits listed transactions in foreign-produced grid equipment, including UPS and backup generators. | Grid and power | In force | 9 October 2026 |
| FERC rules for connecting large loads DOE asked FERC to set federal rules for connecting loads over 20 MW to the transmission system, including data centres co-located with generation. | Grid and power | Proposed | 5 December 2025 |
| Ratepayer Protection Pledge Seven technology companies pledged to pay for the power and grid upgrades their data centres need. | Grid and power | Policy | 4 March 2026 |
| Texas SB 6: large loads on the ERCOT grid Interconnection standards, disclosure and curtailment rules for loads of 75 MW or more in ERCOT. | Grid and power | In force | 20 June 2025 |
| Executive Order 14318: federal permitting of data centres Faster federal permitting and financial support for data centre projects over 100 MW or $500m capex. | Planning and permitting | In force | 28 July 2025 |
| Section 232 tariff on advanced chips 25% duty on certain imported advanced chips from 15 January 2026, not applied to chips for US data centres. | Trade and tariffs | In force | 15 January 2026 |
| DOJ bulk sensitive data rule (28 CFR part 202) Restricts vendor, employment and investment agreements giving countries of concern access to bulk US data; cloud services are vendor agreements. | Data security | In force | 8 April 2025 |
United Kingdom 8
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Security and Investment Act 2021 Mandatory approval before acquiring control of a UK entity in 17 sectors, including data infrastructure and computing hardware. | Investment screening | In force | 15 July 2026 |
| Cyber Security and Resilience Bill Brings data centres of 1 MW or more (10 MW for enterprise sites) under the NIS rules, with Ofcom as regulator. | Cyber and resilience | Bill in Parliament | 26 October 2026 |
| Data centres designated critical national infrastructure UK data centres were designated CNI in September 2024, alongside energy and water. | Cyber and resilience | Policy | 12 September 2024 |
| Connections reform: Gate 2 and the reordered queue Ofgem approved NESO's reform of the connections queue: a firm date now depends on meeting readiness criteria, and the whole queue is reassessed. | Grid and power | In force | 15 April 2025 |
| Demand connections reform: Ofgem call for input Ofgem's review of how demand, data centres above all, joins the network: firmer financial commitments first, then priority for strategic projects. | Grid and power | Consultation | 13 March 2026 |
| Grid connections for strategic demand Proposals to clear speculative demand from the queue and prioritise capacity for data centres. | Grid and power | Consultation | 15 April 2026 |
| AI Growth Zones Designated zones with grid connection priority, planning support and a proposed electricity cost discount. | Planning and permitting | Policy | 17 August 2026 |
| National Planning Policy Framework (September 2026) The new framework names data centres in plan-making and gives substantial weight to AI Growth Zone proposals. | Planning and permitting | In force | 29 September 2026 |
European Union 4
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Foreign Investment Screening Regulation Every Member State must screen foreign investment in a common set of sensitive sectors from January 2028. | Investment screening | Adopted, not yet applying | 17 June 2026 |
| Critical Entities Resilience Directive Member States identify critical entities, including digital infrastructure, which then carry physical resilience duties. | Cyber and resilience | In force | 17 July 2026 |
| NIS2 Directive Data centre service providers are digital infrastructure entities with cyber risk and incident reporting duties. | Cyber and resilience | In force | 18 October 2024 |
| EU data centre energy reporting and rating scheme Annual reporting for data centres of 500 kW or more; rating scheme proposed September 2026; minimum standards next. | Energy and efficiency | Partly in force | 21 September 2026 |
Germany 2
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| AgNes: reform of electricity network charges The Bundesnetzagentur is redesigning grid charges: large consumers would pay a capacity price per kW, and the band load discount continues for existing users to 2031. | Grid and power | Consultation | 6 August 2026 |
| Energy Efficiency Act: data centre duties PUE limits, reused energy shares and 100% renewable power from 2027 for German data centres of 300 kW or more. | Energy and efficiency | In force | 1 July 2026 |
Ireland 1
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRU connection policy for data centres New data centres must bring matching dispatchable capacity and meet 80% of demand from new Irish renewables. | Grid and power | In force | 20 May 2026 |
Netherlands 1
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority rules for grid capacity in congestion areas ACM's code decision lets grid operators give scarce capacity to priority projects first. Data centres are not a priority category. | Grid and power | In force | 1 January 2026 |
Malaysia 1
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strategic Trade Permit for US-origin AI chips Exports, transhipments and transits of high-performance US-origin AI chips need a permit. | Export controls | In force | 14 July 2025 |
Australia 1
| Regulation | Area | Status | Last change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018: data storage and processing Data centres serving government or critical infrastructure can be critical assets with registration and reporting duties. | Cyber and resilience | In force | 2 April 2022 |
Found automatically
Latest official documents
New Federal Register documents, GOV.UK publications and bill stages for the regulations tracked here.
- Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill: Lords 3rd reading UK Parliament · Cyber Security and Resilience Bill New since last review
- Accelerating electricity network connections for strategic demand GOV.UK · Grid connections for strategic demand New since last review
- Outbound Investment Security Program Regulations Federal Register · 91 FR 67396 · US outbound investment rules (31 CFR part 850)
- Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill: Lords report stage UK Parliament · Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
- Notices of final orders under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 GOV.UK · National Security and Investment Act 2021
- National Security and Investment notification service: mandatory, voluntary and retrospective forms GOV.UK · National Security and Investment Act 2021
- National Security and Investment Act 2021 GOV.UK · National Security and Investment Act 2021
- National Planning Policy Framework GOV.UK · National Planning Policy Framework (September 2026)
- Securing the United States Bulk-Power System Federal Register · 91 FR 57322 · Executive Order 14421: foreign bulk-power system equipment
- Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone secures £300 million investment as Dell establishes Scottish base GOV.UK · AI Growth Zones
Also tracked
Chips, power and planning
Method
Entries are written from the official text and the government, regulator and legislature pages they link to; the build rejects any other source. New Federal Register documents, GOV.UK publications and bill stages are found automatically and listed on each entry until it is next reviewed. Data centres and GPUs only. General information drawn from public filings. It is not legal advice on any transaction, and using this page does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Views are personal.
