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Razer Faces $1.1M FTC Settlement over Deceptive Claims on Face Mask
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced a proposed settlement against Razer, a tech company, for misleading claims regarding the Zephyr RGB face mask. Razer marketed the mask as having capabilities similar to an N95 respirator, leading to a proposed payment of $1,171,254.33 as part of the settlement.
Razer’s Deceptive Marketing Tactics
Razer began selling the Zephyr face mask and replacement filters in October 2021. The company continued selling the mask until January 2022 and promoted the filters until July 2022. The FTC’s complaint revealed that Razer’s marketing claims about the Zephyr included statements about replaceable N95 Grade filters, FDA registration, and a 99 percent BFE (bacterial filtration efficiency) rating. The website also mentioned that the mask provided greater protection compared to standard disposable masks, but it was not specifically tested against the COVID-19 virus.
Despite claims made by Razer’s CEO and on social media platforms, the FTC highlighted that the Zephyr was never tested or certified to meet N95 standards by authorized agencies such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health or the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FTC’s Findings
The FTC’s investigation revealed that the 99 percent BFE rating mentioned by Razer applied only to the mask’s filters and not the mask as a whole. The agency stated that Razer lacked evidence to prove that the mask, based solely on the BFE rating, offered adequate protection against COVID-19. Additionally, testing by a third party showed that the Zephyr’s PFE performance levels were below the minimum required for N95 respirators.
Despite being warned by consultants and regulators about the misleading claims and lack of certification, Razer continued to promote the Zephyr as having N95 grade capabilities. The FTC accused Razer of using deceptive advertising that posed risks to public health and safety.
Proposed Settlement and Refunds
The proposed settlement includes a $100,000 civil penalty in addition to $1,071,254.33, equivalent to the revenue generated from Zephyr sales. The FTC stated that the refund amount will go towards compensating affected consumers.
Razer issued a public statement retracting its claims about the Zephyr’s capabilities and removed references to N95 grade filters from its marketing materials. However, the company faced criticism for its refund policy, as less than 6 percent of US customers who purchased the Zephyr received refunds due to specific eligibility criteria.
Despite these developments, Razer did not respond to requests for comment regarding the settlement.
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