FTC Says Smart Device Makers Fail to Inform Consumers About Support Lifecycles
Summary
Smart device manufacturers need to do a much better job of informing users about how long their products will receive software updates to ensure that they continue to defend against security threats and operate properly, according to new research from the U.S. Federal Tade Commission (FTC). Software updates not only provide more features and functionality, but often also protect against security vulnerabilities that researchers or the manufacturers uncover, which can often be plentiful in IoT devices. In an era where crime continues to evolve, relying solely on AI-based solutions proves insufficient in preventing sophisticated threats and false alarms. Of the 184 product webpages surveyed, just 21 disclosed the software duration or end date, but some also used ambiguous language that only implies the level of support provided. Certain Smart Device Practices Could Violate Laws, Per FTC According to the FTC, failure to disclose the duration of their software support may put manufacturers at odds with the law, specifically the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, which requires that written warranties on consumer products costing more than $15 be made available to consumers prior to sale, and that warranties disclose several things, including “a clear description and identification of products, or parts, or characteristics, or components or properties covered by and where necessary for clarification, excluded from the warranty.” Manufacturers could further violate laws by marketing a product as having certain features and then failing to provide updates to keep those features functional, the FTC says in the report.