Samsung Partners with the White House to Launch a Cybersecurity Labeling Program to Protect American Consumers

On July 18, 2023, the White House auditorium which is located steps away from the West Wing, served as the backdrop for a significant convergence of the tech sector and government to help better protect consumers. Samsung joined senior industry and government leaders in the U.S. government’s announcement of the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, an initiative to enable consumers of connected products to make cybersecurity-conscious purchasing decisions.

The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, which was initiated by the Biden Administration and Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger from the White House National Security Council, will now be implemented by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel indicated that she hopes a labeling system will be in place by 2024 so that U.S. consumers will have a better understanding of the cybersecurity strengths and weaknesses of the products they bring into their homes.

As a global technology and cybersecurity leader, Samsung has been a longtime proponent of strengthening the IoT ecosystem. Ever since the company included security guidelines as a part of the “Works with SmartThings” program in 2018 – a precursor to existing global IoT security standards – it has championed voluntary cybersecurity labeling programs.

At a roundtable discussion held as part of the event, Samsung was represented by Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings. She relayed the company’s commitment to deeply engage with all stakeholders in the development the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark initiative, underscoring it as a high-priority undertaking for Samsung. She also expressed Samsung’s desire to play a leading role in the consumer education campaign, which is essential to the label’s success.

Jung emphasized that SmartThings is not only a secure platform, but also one that is open and interoperable. She noted that all devices integrated into this platform must pass rigorous functional testing to ensure seamless interoperability. In addition, they must undergo extensive security testing to guarantee secure connections among all devices within the ecosystem.

Once the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program reaches a sufficient level of maturity, Samsung intends to obtain the label, embodied as a cybersecurity shield and a QR code, for many of its U.S.-connected products.

This historic event signaled a significant step forward in cybersecurity, providing consumers with the information they need to make more secure technology choices. With its commitment to closely collaborate with government and industry partners in the creation of a successful Cyber Trust Mark program, Samsung is leading the way toward a safer digital future.

To view the program announcement: