SINGAPORE: Gaming hardware company Razer will have to pay more than US$1.1 million (S$1.5 million) to refund customers in the United States after it misrepresented the performance and efficacy of supposed N95-grade face masks known as Zephyr.
Under the proposed settlement, it must also pay a civil penalty of US$100,000 along with its affiliated entities involved in the development, marketing and sale of the masks, said the Federal Trade Commission in a news release on Monday (Apr 29).
“These businesses falsely claimed, in the midst of a global (COVID-19) pandemic, that their face mask was the equivalent of an N95 certified respirator,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
According to the FTC, Razer advertised the Zephyr masks as N95-grade even though they never submitted them for testing to the FDA or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The masks, which were launched in 2021, were also never certified as N95.
"The complaint alleges that Razer only stopped the false advertising following negative press coverage and consumer outrage at the deceptive claims," said FTC.
The US Department of Justice filed the case upon notification and referral from the FTC.
Razer is dual-headquartered in Irvine, California, and Singapore, according to the company on its website.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Razer set up a manufacturing line for face masks, including disposable ones, in Singapore.
But the Zephyr, according to a product review on Singapore-based technology portal HardwareZone in 2021, was touted as "the world’s smartest mask".
It had supposed N95-grade filters, which were replaceable, on each side of the ventilators and below the mask.
By definition, N95 respirators must filter at least 95 per cent of ambient air particles between 0.1 and 0.3 micrometres in size, with even higher filtration levels for larger particles.
The FTC said that Razer also never sought or received permission from NIOSH to use the term N95 in marketing and selling its products.
The mask was priced at around USS$100 and consumers were advised to change the filters every three days, according to the report by HardwareZone.
A standard package of the Zephyer mask came with three sets of filters.
The mask was available in Singapore through the company's website, and sold to US consumers online and in three physical stores in Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
It was sold out minutes after its launch in 2021, said Razer at the time.
A check by CNA on Tuesday shows that the Zephyr mask is no longer listed on its website.
The amount of about US$1.1 million that Razer has to pay in the US is equal to its revenue from the masks, said FTC.
"This amount will allow the FTC to provide full refunds to consumers who purchased the deceptively marketed products," it added.
The commission added that the order will also ban Razer from making, without prior FDA approval, any claims that any product prevents or reduces the likelihood of COVID-19 infection or trasmission.
CNA has reached out to Razer for comment.
Continue reading...
Under the proposed settlement, it must also pay a civil penalty of US$100,000 along with its affiliated entities involved in the development, marketing and sale of the masks, said the Federal Trade Commission in a news release on Monday (Apr 29).
“These businesses falsely claimed, in the midst of a global (COVID-19) pandemic, that their face mask was the equivalent of an N95 certified respirator,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
According to the FTC, Razer advertised the Zephyr masks as N95-grade even though they never submitted them for testing to the FDA or National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The masks, which were launched in 2021, were also never certified as N95.
"The complaint alleges that Razer only stopped the false advertising following negative press coverage and consumer outrage at the deceptive claims," said FTC.
The US Department of Justice filed the case upon notification and referral from the FTC.
Razer is dual-headquartered in Irvine, California, and Singapore, according to the company on its website.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Razer set up a manufacturing line for face masks, including disposable ones, in Singapore.
But the Zephyr, according to a product review on Singapore-based technology portal HardwareZone in 2021, was touted as "the world’s smartest mask".
It had supposed N95-grade filters, which were replaceable, on each side of the ventilators and below the mask.
By definition, N95 respirators must filter at least 95 per cent of ambient air particles between 0.1 and 0.3 micrometres in size, with even higher filtration levels for larger particles.
The FTC said that Razer also never sought or received permission from NIOSH to use the term N95 in marketing and selling its products.
Related:
NO LONGER LISTED
The mask was priced at around USS$100 and consumers were advised to change the filters every three days, according to the report by HardwareZone.
A standard package of the Zephyer mask came with three sets of filters.
The mask was available in Singapore through the company's website, and sold to US consumers online and in three physical stores in Seattle, San Francisco and Las Vegas.
It was sold out minutes after its launch in 2021, said Razer at the time.
A check by CNA on Tuesday shows that the Zephyr mask is no longer listed on its website.
The amount of about US$1.1 million that Razer has to pay in the US is equal to its revenue from the masks, said FTC.
"This amount will allow the FTC to provide full refunds to consumers who purchased the deceptively marketed products," it added.
The commission added that the order will also ban Razer from making, without prior FDA approval, any claims that any product prevents or reduces the likelihood of COVID-19 infection or trasmission.
CNA has reached out to Razer for comment.
Continue reading...