The labels proposed by the Biden administration would apply to internet-connected devices like smart home appliances such as refrigerators, TVs, microwaves and climate controls as well as to fitness trackers.
Consumer electronics that meet the cybersecurity requirements laid out by the US government would bear the US Cyber Trust Mark, according to a report by CNBC.
The labeling program would be voluntary and the Biden administration expects to have it rolled out by next year with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) currently seeking public comment on the proposal.
According to the Biden administration, top tech companies including Amazon, Google, LG and Samsung have already committed to improve their products’ cybersecurity.
According to CNBC, the criteria for meeting the Cyber Trust Mark will be set by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and is likely to include requirements such as strong passwords and software updates.
NIST is also planning to create cybersecurity requirements for consumer routers by the end of 2023, which the Biden administration has called “a higher-risk type of product that, if compromised, can be used to eavesdrop, steal passwords, and attack other devices and high value networks.”
Meanwhile, the FCC has applied to register a national trademark for the Cyber Trust Mark label, which would be carried by all electronics that meet the standards.