{"format":1,"id":"118-hr-538","congress":118,"number":"H.R. 538","kind":"bill","group":"bills","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act","title_source":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","official_title":"To require the disclosure of a camera or recording capability in certain internet-connected devices.","titles":[{"type":"Official Title as Introduced","title":"To require the disclosure of a camera or recording capability in certain internet-connected devices."},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Titles from RFS (Referred to Senate) bill text","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2023-01-26","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2023-02-27","vote":{"id":"118-2023-h121","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act","result":"Passed","yea":406,"nay":12,"present":0,"not_voting":15,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2023/roll121.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"na","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"na","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.","date":"2023-02-28"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2023-02-27","stage":"Passed House","blocks":[{"k":"h","t":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"k":"p","t":"This bill requires manufacturers of internet-connected devices (e.g., smart appliances) that are equipped with a camera or microphone to disclose to consumers that a camera or microphone is part of the device."},{"k":"p","t":"The bill does not apply to mobile phones, laptops, or other devices that a consumer would reasonably expect to include a camera or microphone."}],"words":62},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Requires manufacturers of certain internet-connected consumer products to disclose whether the product contains a camera or microphone, and provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission.","cites":[{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HDCCB1AA67B5A4354971C9A2FF5FE5E05"},{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HD8CF2A791F4B4D61A0E6DCBD719E9236"},{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HE29C8936CB4746BE8A13CB626DC6A7AB"}]},"core_areas":["Disclosure of cameras and microphones in internet-connected consumer products","Federal Trade Commission enforcement and guidance"],"what_it_does":[{"text":"Requires each manufacturer of a covered device to disclose whether the device contains a camera or microphone as a component.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HDCCB1AA67B5A4354971C9A2FF5FE5E05"}},{"text":"Defines a covered device as a consumer product, as defined in the Consumer Product Safety Act, that can connect to the internet and has a camera or microphone as a component.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HE29C8936CB4746BE8A13CB626DC6A7AB"}},{"text":"Excludes from the definition telephones, laptops, tablets, devices a consumer would reasonably expect to have a microphone or camera, and devices specifically marketed as a camera, telecommunications device, or microphone.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HE29C8936CB4746BE8A13CB626DC6A7AB"}},{"text":"Treats a violation of the disclosure requirement as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act, and directs the Commission to enforce the Act.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HD8CF2A791F4B4D61A0E6DCBD719E9236"}},{"text":"Directs the Federal Trade Commission to issue guidance to help manufacturers comply, including on making the disclosure clear and conspicuous, not later than 180 days after enactment.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HD8CF2A791F4B4D61A0E6DCBD719E9236"}},{"text":"Applies the Act to covered devices manufactured after the date 180 days after the Commission issues its guidance, and not to devices manufactured or sold before that date.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 5","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#H0859B2782DA1475D9EEF335EF846A90D"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh#HE29C8936CB4746BE8A13CB626DC6A7AB"},"heading":"Definition of covered device","effect":"Defines a covered device as an internet-connected consumer product with a camera or microphone, and excludes phones, laptops, tablets, devices marketed as cameras or microphones, and devices described in listed Communications Act sections.","amount":null,"quote":"a telephone (including a mobile phone), a laptop, tablet, or any device that a consumer would reasonably expect to have a microphone or camera"}]}],"version":{"type":"Engrossed in House","date":"2023-02-27","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-10-02","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/538/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/118-hr-538.png","v":"5579d573d84b","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 538, 118th Congress: Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act. House: 406 Yea, 12 Nay. Outcome: Passed House, 27 Feb 2023."}}