The U.S. and the European Union (EU) have signed an agreement to work collaboratively to strengthen the cybersecurity of Internet-of-things (IoT)-capable hardware and software products used by consumers.
According to a joint press statement issued in late January by the European Commission and the White House National Security Council, the Joint Cybersafe Products Action Plan is intended to foster technical cooperation between the U.S. and the EU, in an effort to align their respective cybersecurity requirements. The ultimate goal of the Joint Action Plan is for the signatories to achieve mutual recognition of cybersecurity labeling programs and regulations for IoT devices.
The Joint Cybersafe Products Action Plan was immediately endorsed by Jessica Rosenworcel, Chair of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In a separate statement, Rosenworcel referenced the FCC’s efforts to establish its own cybersecurity labeling program, building on work by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and welcomed the opportunity to actively collaborate with their counterparts in the EU to reduce unnecessary cyber risks for consumers.
