White House plans IoT security labeling program

The White House confirmed plans to launch a cybersecurity consumer labeling program for Internet of Things devices by the spring of 2023, following a summit with some of the nation’s top device makers, retailers and industry associations.

The Biden administration plans to implement a voluntary Energy Star-type labeling system that would give consumers information on a range of internet-connected smart devices that pose potential risks of being hacked.

A labeling program to secure such devices would provide American consumers with the peace of mind that the technology being brought into their homes is safe, and incentivize manufacturers to meet higher cybersecurity standards and retailers to market secure devices, National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in an official White House statement.