New bill would require tech devices with hidden cameras or microphones to have a warning label

A new Senate bill would require tech companies to label internet-connected devices equipped with either a camera or microphone. Introduced by Cory Gardner, a Republican senator from Colorado, the Protecting Privacy in our Homes Act is intended to enhance consumer privacy as more and more tech devices come equipped with surveillance tools that aren't always obvious. The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for creating the specific language for the label and for determining and enforcing penalties for non-compliance. Amazon's Alexa (pictured above) comes with a microphone that records users even when they're not using the device. The bill would exclude devices marketed specifically as cameras or microphones.