Tech Company Receives Hefty Penalty for Deceptive Product

In 2020, the whole world came to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic and realized the importance of wearing a mask to protect yourself and others from viruses. Razer wanted to stand out with THE Project Hazela respiratory protection mask with lighting Chroma RGBsince known as Razer Zephyr.

Presented at CES 2021, the Zephyr had something to interest technophiles, especially since Razer claimed that it had “N95 quality” filters (the equivalent of FFP2 in Europe). However, a few months after the start of marketing, Razer removed the N95 label from its website, having in fact not received certification on the part of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Even if the manufacturer claimed to have carried out internal tests to prove its effectiveness, the Zephyr is ultimately nothing other than an original mask with LEDs, but clearly not a tool for protection against viruses.

The affair caused a stir across the Atlantic, and now there Federal Trade Commission comes to condemn Razer to pay $1.1 million for selling a misleading product to its customers. Sam Levine, director of the Office of Consumer Protection at the FTCcomments:

These companies falsely claimed, in the middle of a global pandemic, that their face mask was the equivalent of a certified N95 respirator. The FTC will continue to hold accountable companies that use false, unsubstantiated claims aimed at targeting consumers who make decisions about their health and safety.

Razer claims to have already refunded all buyers of the Zephyr, sales have also been stopped. There FTC also condemned the manufacturer to prohibit making false health declarations without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration, which monitors drugs in the United States in particular. A spokesperson for Razer still shared a press release to IGN to comment on this conviction:

We disagree with the FTC's allegations and have not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. We never intended to mislead anyone, and we have chosen to settle this matter to avoid any distraction and disruption from litigation and continue to focus on creating great products for gamers . Razer cares deeply about our community and is always looking to deliver technology in new and relevant ways.

Now that the Zephyr is no longer marketed, that the buyers have been reimbursed (according to the manufacturer) and that the fine has been paid, Razer will be able to concentrate on what he knows how to do: peripherals for gamers. You can find the entire manufacturer's catalog on its official website.

Clint008 Editor – Tester