{"format":1,"id":"119-hr-859","congress":119,"number":"H.R. 859","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":"Official Title from EH (Engrossed in House) bill text","title":"To require the disclosure of a camera or recording capability in certain internet-connected devices."},{"type":"Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Passed House","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Reported to House","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Display Title","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"},{"type":"Short Title(s) as Introduced","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act"}],"outcome":"passed_house","law_number":null,"introduced":"2025-01-31","chambers":{"house":{"status":"roll_call","date":"2025-04-29","vote":{"id":"119-2025-h109","question":"On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass","title":"Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act","result":"Passed","yea":415,"nay":9,"present":0,"not_voting":8,"source":"https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2025/roll109.xml"}},"senate":{"status":"pending","date":null,"vote":null}},"president":{"status":"not_yet","date":null},"vice_president_tie_breaker":null,"latest_action":{"text":"Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 64.","date":"2025-04-30"},"nominees":null,"amendments":[],"other_votes":[],"crs_summary":{"date":"2025-01-31","stage":"Introduced in 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 prior to purchase 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":65},"summary":{"main_subject":{"text":"Requires manufacturers of certain internet-connected consumer products to disclose before purchase 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/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#HD62C5655C3444C278F63EBFCE4D6997C"},{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H5BF713A25BB240FBBB9C38724DBD11EF"},{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H2E5D33928A6A49BBB038E81D0BD2A1EE"}]},"core_areas":["Pre-purchase 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, clearly and conspicuously and before purchase, whether the device contains a camera or microphone as a component.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 2","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#HD62C5655C3444C278F63EBFCE4D6997C"}},{"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/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H2E5D33928A6A49BBB038E81D0BD2A1EE"}},{"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/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H2E5D33928A6A49BBB038E81D0BD2A1EE"}},{"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 Federal Trade Commission to enforce the Act.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H5BF713A25BB240FBBB9C38724DBD11EF"}},{"text":"Requires the Federal Trade Commission to issue guidance to help manufacturers comply not later than 180 days after enactment, and allows a manufacturer to petition the Commission for tailored guidance.","cite":{"label":"Sec. 3","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H5BF713A25BB240FBBB9C38724DBD11EF"}},{"text":"Applies the Act to covered devices manufactured after the date that is 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/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H0B4EE7040A814302A2B66D5F281AA78F"}}],"unexpected":[{"category":"selective_carve_out","items":[{"cite":{"label":"Sec. 4","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh#H2E5D33928A6A49BBB038E81D0BD2A1EE"},"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 a consumer would expect to have a microphone or camera, devices marketed as cameras or microphones, and devices under certain 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":"2025-04-29","rule":"passed","href":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text/eh"},"current":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","approved":"2026-09-29","approved_by":"checks"},"sources":{"congress_gov":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859","text":"https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/859/text"},"card":{"image":"card/item/119-hr-859.png","v":"9f79ea83c86a","alt":"Votes on Record. H.R. 859, 119th Congress: Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act. House: 415 Yea, 9 Nay. Senate: not yet considered. Outcome: Passed House, 29 Apr 2025."}}