Senate Passes New Consumer Protections and Safeguards Against Electronic Eavesdropping

Senate Democrats voted Thursday to advance new safeguards against eavesdropping by televisions, home appliances, and toys as part of Senate Bill 3, the caucus’s priority consumer protection proposal, which also includes provisions targeting junk fees and price gouging.

The 25-10 vote by the Senate sends Senate Bill 3 to the House of Representatives for consideration before the 2025 legislative session concludes on June 4.

Senate Bill 3 seeks to ensure that Connecticut consumers are not monitored by their home appliances, televisions, and toys without their knowledge and provides them with tools to prevent device manufacturers from selling their recordings to advertisers.

The bill’s eavesdropping provisions follow reporting by tech news site 404 Media, which published stories detailing claims by Cox Media Group, which said it was capable of targeting advertisements based on verbal statements made by consumers and caught by microphones included in their devices.

“Privacy becomes a more precious commodity with each passing year, so it’s important that Connecticut consumers have a clear understanding of how their smart devices function and the ability to decline invasive features,” said Senate President Martin Looney. “This bill restores that power to consumers and puts common sense limits on companies that would profit from surveillance. It also expands the power of the attorney general to pursue price gouging beyond retailers to the entire supply chain.”

“It may sound like science fiction or paranoia, but our devices and appliances really are listening to us and at least one company has bragged about its ability to monetize what we’re saying in private,” Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff said. “Through Senate Bill 3, we’re putting consumers in charge of their privacy: we’re making sure they’re aware that their television can record them and giving them the ability to opt out.”

“Connecticut is stepping up to protect families from predatory business practices, whether it’s microphones in household appliances, recording their conversations or surprise junk fees inflating their bills,” Senator James Maroney, co-chair of the legislature’s General Law Committee, said. “SB 3 will bring transparency to the marketplace so Connecticut consumers know what they’re paying for and when their privacy is used to pad someone’s bottom line.”

Senate Bill 3 requires companies to provide users with privacy notices before enabling  microphones in home appliances, televisions and toys, and gives consumers the option of declining to activate cameras and microphones.

The bill also provides consumers the opportunity to opt out of targeted advertisements based on these voice recordings and requires companies to maintain security measures to safeguard users’ information.

Senate Bill 3 seeks to address the affordability of goods and services by expanding the state attorney general’s capability to crack down on price gouging during disasters. While current price gouging statutes apply only to retailers, the bill broadens the policy to include the entire supply chain.

Additional provisions of Senate Bill 3 will:

-Protect consumers from junk fees by generally requiring advertisements to present customers with upfront pricing that does not hide additional fees.

-Prevent junk fees on long-term rental properties by requiring advertisements to include any fee or charge the tenant will be required to pay, with some exceptions like pet fees and certain utility costs.

-Create a right to repair products by requiring companies to make consumer tools and parts available to ensure their products can be repaired by people who are not associated with the company.

-Require Connecticut municipalities to use “.gov” web domains by July 1, 2026 and connect towns and cities with federal grants to assist with this transition.

Requires businesses with automatic renewal to send consumers an annual reminder allowing them to stop the renewal of service.