If Congress does not pass a cybersecurity bill aimed at the “Internet of things,” or IoT, this year, a private certification label could fill the gap.

The digital rights group Public Knowledge has proposed a badge for IoT devices, which are everyday appliances with Internet connectivity, such as smart refrigerators, the Amazon Echo, or app-controlled thermostats like Nest. The “Security Shield” would indicate that a manufacturer had met certain cybersecurity standards.