Washington (October 11, 2022) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on International Cybersecurity Policy, and Representative Ted W. Lieu (CA-33) issued the following statement today after the Biden administration announced it would strengthen federal cybersecurity measures and bring together companies, associations, and government partners to coordinate efforts to protect consumers from hacking and other vulnerabilities online:

“Far too often, the Internet of Things is actually the Internet of Threats. As Americans install tens of millions of internet-connected devices for their homes, cybersecurity protections have never been more important. That’s why we introduced the Cyber Shield Act to create a voluntary consumer label indicating whether a device meets high cybersecurity benchmarks. We applaud the White House today on their announcement that they will adopt a similar approach and deliver a win for American families so that they have the information they need to safeguard their privacy at home. An Internet of Things cyber label is a critical step to returning power to consumers and strengthening cybersecurity protections.”

In March 2021, Senator Markey and Representative Lieu reintroduced their Cyber Shield Act. The legislation would establish an advisory committee of cybersecurity experts from academia, industry, consumer groups, government, and the public to create cybersecurity benchmarks for IoT devices – such as baby monitors, home assistants, smart locks, cameras, cell phones, and laptops. IoT manufacturers can then voluntarily certify that their products meet those cybersecurity benchmarks, and display this certification to the public with a “Cyber Shield” label that will help consumers identify and purchase more secure technology for their homes.

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