How safe are products in the Internet of Things?
Do you think you could tell if your new connected speaker, energy meter or baby monitor was unsafe or insecure? Maybe you suspect the home security camera is continuing to record activity even when it is switched off, or maybe a sudden increase in phishing phone calls has made you think that one of your connected products is leaking data?
For non-connected products, not only is it easier to tell if it is broken or unsafe, it is also possible in many jurisdictions to return it to the retailer whose responsibility it is to offer a refund or replacement. But for a connected product where the safety issue could be due to anything from a software defect, a hardware defect or a problem with your network connection, it is hard to tell where to turn for help.
Consumers International is working with members and partners to deliver positive impact for consumers in the digital economy and society. We want to make sure they can get the best out of digital developments, including the Internet of Things, without having to compromise on core rights like safety and redress.
International Product Safety Week
This week we are participating in the International Product Safety Week, at the Joint OECD-EC conference on IoT, AI and product safety. Our Director General, Amanda Long, will be sharing a panel with the European Union Agency for Network and Information Security, the International Federation of Inspection Agencies, and CEN/CENELEC to discuss policy options.
We will also be at the OECD Working Party on Consumer Product Safety the following day, promoting the importance of putting our principles on ‘Securing Consumer Trust in the Internet of Things’ into practice.
The principles are now available in English, Spanish, French and Arabic.
