European Union May Regulate Internet of Things

The European Union is reviewing measures that would increase protections for the Internet of Things. The potential legislation is geared towards requiring more stringent certifications for smart products and enhancing cybersecurity protections across the 28-nation bloc.

The European Parliament Committee on Industry, Research, Telecoms, & Energy (ITRE) voted to advance a report on a proposed law that would fortify weaknesses in cybersecurity, but it is unclear the extent to which it will affect connected objects.

The law is being reviewed in light of the recently enacted General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a regulation passed to protect consumers inside the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). However, the size of the European market and the fluidity of modern international commerce meant that the new protections affected consumers and businesses around the world. The GDPR focused on data protection and privacy for citizens and gave consumers more control over who could access their personal information. GDPR regulations also standardized the legal landscape regarding privacy for businesses serving the EU and EEA.