Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has chosen Commissioner Olivia Trusty to lead the FCC’s rollout and implementation of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program.
Working with the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Trusty will coordinate efforts as the voluntary cybersecurity labeling initiative moves toward commercial deployment, according to an FCC release.
The program is intended to help consumers identify smart products that meet baseline cybersecurity standards, covering Internet of Things devices such as connected door locks, garage door openers, security systems and smart lighting.
“What’s clear is that the average shopper cannot be expected to examine a product’s software or investigate its security update practices before buying it,” Trusty said during a keynote Wednesday at the Consumer Technology Association Innovation House event.
[Related: “FCC Posts FAQ About the New Cybersecurity Rules”]
These devices offer convenience, but as the FCC’s website on the program explained, IoT products can be susceptible to a range of security vulnerabilities.
Under the initiative, participating products will feature a logo with a scannable QR code, allowing shoppers to review product security details, support windows and data privacy disclosures from a smartphone.
“This effort will advance our nation’s security and provide consumers with greater confidence when they bring connected products and devices into their homes,” Carr said.
The commission compared the initiative to the Energy Star program, believing that clear labeling will educate the public while incentivizing manufacturers to build more secure consumer hardware.
The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark labeling program excludes several equipment categories:
- Medical devices regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
- Motor vehicles and equipment regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- Wired-only devices.
- Products intended primarily for industrial control, manufacturing or enterprise environments.
- Equipment listed on the FCC covered list or manufactured by covered entities.
- IoT products from entities subject to national security restrictions or banned from federal procurement.
In the coming months, the commission expects to release a public notice on the program’s technical requirements and testing procedures.
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