Updated 4 hours ago
Last progress March 3, 2025 (11 months ago)
Updated 6 days ago
Last progress April 30, 2025 (9 months ago)
Requires manufacturers of internet-connected consumer products that include a camera or microphone to disclose clearly and conspicuously to buyers, before purchase, whether the device contains a camera or a microphone. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the rule as an unfair or deceptive practice, must issue guidance within 180 days to help manufacturers comply, and the rule applies to devices manufactured more than 180 days after the FTC issues that guidance (devices already in commerce are excluded).
Each manufacturer of a covered device must disclose whether the covered device contains a camera or a microphone as a component of the covered device.
The disclosure must be made clearly and conspicuously.
The disclosure must be provided prior to purchase.
A violation of section 2 is to be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as if the applicable terms of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into this Act.
Manufacturers of covered consumer devices will need to add or update pre-sale disclosures (labels, packaging, product pages, marketplace listings, and in-store signage) and may need to audit product bills of materials and supply chains to confirm the presence of camera or microphone components. Online retailers and marketplaces will need to ensure product listings include the required disclosure for covered items they sell. Consumers will gain clearer, standardized notice before purchase about whether a device contains audio/video capture hardware, improving informed choice and basic privacy awareness. The FTC will incur responsibility to produce guidance and to investigate and enforce violations; this may increase agency workload but uses existing enforcement authorities. Small or new manufacturers could face disproportionate compliance costs (product labeling, web updates, legal review), while exempt categories (phones, laptops, tablets, marketed cameras/telecom devices, and items consumers reasonably expect to include these components) limit the law's scope and reduce broad industry disruption. Because the law focuses on disclosure rather than banning features, it mainly changes product marketing and pre-sale transparency rather than technical design or data practices directly.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Last progress January 7, 2025 (1 year ago)
Introduced on January 7, 2025 by Rafael Edward Cruz