US Government Introduces Cybersecurity Label, Cyber Trust Mark

This Cyber Trust Mark is designed to help consumers assess the level of cybersecurity of these devices.

JAKARTA The White House introduced new labels for internet devices such as smart thermostats, baby monitors, application-controlled lights, and other internet-connected devices. The label, dubbed Cyber Trust Mark, is designed to help consumers assess the level of cybersecurity of these devices.

The Cyber Trust Mark label, in the form of a shield logo with a design resembling a microchip, serves similar to the US Department of Agriculture label on food or an Energy Star rating on electronic devices.

Devices wishing to acquire this label must meet the cybersecurity criteria set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through testing in accredited laboratories.

The increasingly widely used smart devices, such as garage doors, fitness trackers, security cameras, voice assistants, to ovens and smart trash cans, offer comfort but also bring new security risks.

"Each of these devices is an attractive digital door for highly motivated hackers," Anne Neuberger, Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber, told a news conference.

This label is voluntary, but Neuberger hopes consumers will start asking for products with the label. "I hope consumers will say, I don't want devices in my home, like cameras or baby monitors, which are at risk of my privacy," he added.

The government plans to start this program with consumer devices such as cameras, then proceed to devices such as home and office routers as well as smart meters. Products with the Cyber Trust Mark label are expected to be available on the market this year.

In addition, the White House is also planning an executive order requiring the US government to only buy products with a Cyber Trust Mark label starting in 2027. The program has bipartisan support in Congress.