A bipartisan group of US senators plans to introduce legislation which would require internet of things (IoT) manufacturers to submit their devices to the US government for approval. It would also prohibit vendors from supplying devices with interchangeable passwords or known security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity researchers who hack equipment "in good faith" would also receive expanded legal protection under the bill. The legislation addresses an "obvious market failure" which has left device manufacturers without adequate incentive to build security into their devices, said Republicans Mark Warner.
A bipartisan group of US senators plans to introduce legislation which would require internet of things (IoT) manufacturers to submit their devices to the US government for approval. It would also prohibit vendors from supplying devices with interchangeable passwords or known security vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity researchers who hack equipment "in good faith" would also receive expanded legal protection under the bill. The legislation addresses an "obvious market failure" which has left device manufacturers without adequate incentive to build security into their devices, said Democrat Mark Warner.