US consumer safety agency will not make product defect data public
What happened
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has withdrawn a proposed rule. This means the agency will not make it easier for the public to see product defect information.
Why it matters
For years, the Consumer Product Safety Act has made it difficult for the public to access information about dangerous products. The agency wanted to change this, but it has now given up. This means consumers will continue to have less information than manufacturers about product safety.
The signal
Watch for consumer advocacy groups to sue the agency or push for new legislation to force more transparency.