The word "regulate" comes from the Latin word regula, meaning "rule" or "straight piece of wood," which itself derives from the Proto Indo-European root reg-, meaning "to move in a straight line".  The meaning of regulate evolved from the idea of directing something in a straight line or governing by rule, to the modern sense of adjusting or controlling something to a standard or a desired level.  In the early 15th century, the word "regulate" was used to mean "adjust by rule, method, or control". 

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the verb "regulate" was first used in English around 1549, appearing in the writings of W. Glynne.

Examples of "regulate" used in a sentence:  
"Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas to regulate sugar metabolism." 
"It has been proven that chemical receptors in the brain regulate emotion." 
"Third, Congress has the power to regulate activities that substantially affect interstate commerce." 
"Thyroxine helps regulate your body's metabolism, including how quickly you burn calories." 
"We need better laws to regulate the content of the internet." 
"Laws have been made to regulate working conditions."
"The government regulates how much lead may be found in our water supply."
"The U.S. Department of State regulates foreign trade." 

Just the facts:

REGULATE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

Websters 1828 - Webster's Dictionary 1828 - Regulate

REGULATE Synonyms: 82 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus

Ha!   Data privacy?   The laws of the United States are too weak to REALLY regulate data privacy.