Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. FULCHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the good chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade for yielding time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 859, Informing Consumers About Smart Devices Act. This bill would require manufacturers of internet-connected so-called smart appliances to disclose to consumers prior to purchase when their product is equipped with a camera or microphone.
Manufacturers today produce appliances that connect to software applications that can be set, managed, and monitored through one's computing device. They are designed to capture voice commands from around the vicinity, recording information to adapt to the way individuals give commands. They are also often equipped with cameras to capture QR codes or other specific information particular to that appliance.
While the intention may strictly be for convenience, consumers need to be aware that private information may be captured by a smart appliance. We need to ensure proper disclosure and consumer awareness of these features.
It is also important to note that the bill's disclosure requirement only applies to appliances we wouldn't otherwise expect to be equipped with a camera or a microphone. For example, devices like mobile phones, laptops, and tablets would not have this requirement.
Put bluntly, our stoves or refrigerators shouldn't be secretly recording conversations in our homes. Such information could be accessed by a hacker or nefarious third party. Audio or video data of personally identifiable or confidential information could be stolen and/or used without the owner's knowledge. That could lead to scams or other kinds of harms.
People need to know all the functionalities of their appliances before bringing them home. This bill makes that possible.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Seth Moulton, for co-leading this bipartisan effort. I urge support for this legislation.
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