Remember when we called Razer’s Zephyr face mask one of them most disappointing gadgets of 2021? It’s even more disappointing when you consider that three years later, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) claims the company didn’t even submit the face mask for testing. The FTC is seeking more than $1 million in restitution from Razer for falsely advertising its bright, RGB-laden face mask, as well as additional fees for misleading buyers about how protective the Zephyr would be.
The FTC is filing its complaint against Razer — or, as the organization calls the company, the “sellers of a purported N95 face mask called Zephyr.” Razer will have to pay more than $1.1 million in refunds to people who bought the face mask in the US, according to a Press release Published Monday. The agency is also demanding that Razer pay a $100.00 civil penalty for “unfounded health claims about health protective equipment.”
“These companies falsely claimed that their face mask was equivalent to an N95-certified respirator in the midst of a global pandemic,” said Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
We’ve reached out to Razer for comment on the FTC’s claim. The company’s statement is as follows:
We disagree with the FTC’s allegations and have not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. It was never our intention to mislead anyone, and we have decided to resolve this matter to avoid the distraction and disruption of litigation and to remain focused on building great products for gamers. Razer cares deeply about our community and is always striving to deliver technology in new and relevant ways.
The Razer Zephyr was designed to provide the community with a different and innovative face covering option. The FTC’s claims against Razer involved limited portions of some statements related to the Zephyr. More than two years ago, Razer proactively informed customers that the Zephyr was not an N95 mask, stopped sales, and issued customers a refund.
The N95 class is certified by the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The FTC says Razer’s $100 Zephyr isn’t certified. At the time, marketing claimed the face mask was N95 certified, an especially big seller considering the pandemic was still affecting a significant portion of the world’s population. When YouTuber Naomi Wu began investigating Razer’s claimsRazer had finally removed mentions of N95-level protection from its advertising.