From laptops to fridges to mobile apps, smart devices connected to the internet will have to be assessed for their cyber-security risks under draft European Union rules announced on Thursday.
"[The Act] will put the responsibility where it belongs, with those that place the products on the market," EU digital chief Margrethe Vestager said in a statement.
Under the proposed bill, known as the Cyber Resilience Act, companies would face fines of as much as €15m (£13m) or up to 2.5 per cent of their total global turnover if they fail to fix any problems that are identified.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine have increased the risk of cyber attacks, according to EU authorities. Although most companies do have plans in place to protect their digital infrastructure, the Commission stressed that most hardware and software products are not currently subject to any cyber-security obligations.
The EU said a ransomware attack takes place every...