FTC asks Razer to pay for LED face mask

Customers who bought the Zephyr LED respirator from Razor will get their money back – at least in the USA. The computer accessories manufacturer Razer must refund a total of 1.1 million US dollars to customers there. This is the result of a proposed settlement by the US competition and consumer protection authority, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as reported by the US technology portal The Verge on Monday.

Razer had claimed that the face mask, equipped with removable and rechargeable active fans, uses N95 filters. However, in its complaint before the US District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 8:24-cv-00907), the FTC accuses the company of never having submitted the Zephyr mask for testing. In turn, the false advertising for the product was only discontinued "after negative press coverage and consumer outrage over the misleading claims".

Zephyr mask a bestseller

Razer first launched its futuristic-looking Zephyr face mask in 2021, "as a cyberpunk alternative to traditional face masks worn during the Covid-19 pandemic", according to The Verge. The company described the mask as a "wearable air purifier". In Germany, the 109 euro gadget sold out immediately after going on sale.

Razer initially advertised the Zephyr mask with N95 filters. After a US YouTuber disassembled the mask and discovered that it was not N95-certified, the company removed any mention of the filter class. N95 masks are particle-filtering respirators that meet the N95 air filtration rating standard set by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. As the name suggests, this means that at least 95 percent of airborne particles are filtered out

FTC allegations

The FTC accuses Razer of making misleading statements about the mask on social media and on its product pages. The company has also never had the mask tested by the relevant US authorities. "These companies have falsely claimed that their face masks are equivalent to N95-certified respirators in the midst of a global pandemic," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, in a statement quoted by The Verge. "The FTC will continue to hold companies accountable for using false and unsubstantiated claims to influence consumers who make decisions about their health and safety," Levine continued.

The FTC's proposed settlement also requires Razer to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. The company will also be prohibited from making "COVID-related health misrepresentations" and other "unsubstantiated health claims."

• Lawsuit USA v Razer

• Proposed settlement USA v Razer

(akn)