A Republican bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 47.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
The "Informing Consumers about Smart Devices Act" requires manufacturers of certain internet-connected devices to disclose if their products contain a camera or microphone. This disclosure must be made clearly and conspicuously before a purchase is made. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing these requirements and issuing guidance to manufacturers. The law treats failure to disclose these capabilities as an unfair or deceptive act or practice. Certain devices, such as phones, laptops, and tablets, are excluded from these requirements. The Act applies to covered devices manufactured after a specific period following the issuance of Commission guidance.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill requires manufacturers to disclose whether internet-connected devices contain cameras or microphones prior to purchase.
- Scored +5
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The act promotes privacy by informing consumers of potential recording capabilities in their devices before they buy them.
- Scored +4
Would children be better off under this?
The bill directs the Commission to include guidance on making disclosures age appropriate, which benefits younger users.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency: Manufacturers of covered devices must disclose whether a device contains a camera or a microphone clearly and conspicuously prior to purchase (Section 2). This ensures consumers are informed about the capabilities of their products before buying them.
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Regulatory Oversight: The Federal Trade Commission is authorized to enforce the Act, treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices (Section 3(a)). This provides a mechanism to hold manufacturers accountable for failing to disclose these features.
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Helpful Guidance: The Commission is required to issue guidance to help manufacturers comply, including best practices for making disclosures clear, conspicuous, and age appropriate (Section 3(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Scope of Protection: Certain common devices like telephones, mobile phones, laptops, and tablets are explicitly excluded from the definition of a "covered device" (Section 4(1)(A)). This means the disclosure requirements do not apply to these items even if they contain a camera or microphone.
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Exclusion of Marketed Devices: Any device specifically marketed as a camera, telecommunications device, or microphone is not subject to these rules (Section 4(1)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill directs the Commission to include guidance on making disclosures age appropriate, which benefits younger users. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency helps prevent consumers from unknowingly purchasing devices with sensitive recording hardware. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill provides transparency for all consumers purchasing internet-connected smart devices.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The act promotes privacy by informing consumers of potential recording capabilities in their devices before they buy them. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill empowers the FTC to oversee manufacturer disclosures and issue public guidance to ensure compliance.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill requires manufacturers to disclose whether internet-connected devices contain cameras or microphones prior to purchase.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — By mandating disclosure of hardware capable of recording, the bill provides consumers more awareness regarding their digital privacy.
- 3/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-13.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 47.
- 3/12/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 1/7/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
John CurtisRepublican · Utah
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia