Trump Administration Probes Biden-Era IoT Security Program

The Trump administration is investigating a Biden-era initiative that oversees how Internet of Things (IoT) devices—like home security cameras, TVs, and baby monitors—get their safety certifications.

Insecure IoT devices can pose major cybersecurity risks. For example, hackers can infiltrate a company’s printer or security camera as a backdoor to get access to its data, an issue that shows no signs of disappearing anytime soon.

The US Cyber Trust Mark (USCTM) program, which started rolling out in January, is a voluntary certification system that issues safety labels based on security standards set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). But according to a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) document, first leaked to Fox News Digital, the program could pose national security risks.

Though UL Solutions, the company managing the testing process, is American-owned, the FCC alleges that it maintains “deep ties to China.” This reportedly includes a joint venture with the China National Import and Export Commodities Inspection Corp., which is banned from participating in the FCC’s equipment authorization program.

The reports, which were later verified by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, also claim UL Solutions operates 18 testing sites in China, including three in locations described as “particularly alarming.”

“At present, Chinese IoT products, or products using Chinese IoT modules, can get the USCTM label as easily as American products,” the document claims.

An unnamed FCC executive told Fox News Digital the Biden administration “rushed” the rollout of the program, which is now in “limbo.”

“We cannot comment on the specific details of this US government program,” a spokesperson at UL Solutions told Fox News Digital. “As a leading American safety science company with operations around the globe and roots that go back more than 130 years, UL Solutions takes cybersecurity very seriously and has always operated with transparency and integrity.”

This isn’t the first and likely isn’t the last time we’ll see the Trump administration’s crackdown on tech with links to China, both direct and indirect. Earlier this month, a series of Trump-signed executive orders included measures that could eventually mean fewer Chinese-made drones like DJI’s in American skies. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi router maker TP-Link has recently come under fire from a group of Republican lawmakers for its alleged China links.

About Will McCurdy

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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.

I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.

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