United States of America: Issued FCC Requests for Information to Online Marketplaces Regarding Sale of Insecure IoT Devices

On 8 March 2024, FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks initiated an investigation into the sale of insecure Internet of Things (IoT) devices that violate FCC equipment authorisation requirements. Letters were sent to five online marketplaces, including Amazon, Sears, Shein, Temu, and Walmart, raising concerns about their involvement in the sale, shipment, or distribution of easily hacked video doorbells, some of which lack a visible FCC ID. The Commissioner expressed concern over the lack of basic security measures in these devices and the potential risk they pose to privacy and network security. The investigation aims to identify ways to prevent the sale of such devices and to ensure compliance with FCC's equipment authorisation rules.