Jennifer Scanlon is CEO of UL Solutions, one of those hidden-in-plain-sight companies we like to poke at here on Decoder. UL's been around for more than 100 years; it started as a way for insurance companies to standardize fire and safety testing as electricity was the new technology spreading into homes.
But now it's everywhere, and "safety" in tech doesn't just mean the hardware. UL is adapting quickly to the connected, AI-powered era... but do the companies making and distributing tech even care about standards anymore?
Links: 
<ul>
 <li>
How fake UL certifications led to Chinese ebike suit | <a href="https://electrek.co/2026/01/29/how-fake-ul-certifications-lead-to-amazons-major-chinese-e-bike-lawsuit/">Electrek</a>
</li>
 <li>
FCC IoT program loses UL after China probe | <a href="https://www.cybersecuritydive.com/news/fcc-cyber-trust-mark-iot-labeling-ul-withdraw/808732/">Cybersecurity Dive</a>
</li>
 <li>
FCC’s Carr probes IoT program lab over “ties to China” | <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/trump-administration-probes-biden-era-iot-security-program">PC Mag</a>
</li>
 <li>
The US router ban, explained | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/899906/fcc-router-ban-march-2026-explainer">The Verge</a>
</li>
 <li>
More than 500,000 hoverboards recalled (2016) | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/7/6/12105506/hoverboard-recall-swagway-razor-others-over-500000-units-cpsc">The Verge</a>
</li>
 <li>
Brendan Carr is a dummy | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/848012/brendan-carr-fcc-dummy-free-speech-vergecast">The Vergecast</a>
</li>
</ul>
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Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Kabir Chopra. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. 
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

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