From Ars Technica · · 3m
Florida and three states sue TP-Link over China ties and router security
Four Republican attorneys general allege the router maker lied about its connections to China and the risks of state-sponsored hacking, as the company remains blocked from selling new models in the US.
In brief
Four Republican attorneys general allege the router maker lied about its connections to China and the risks of state-sponsored hacking, as the company remains blocked from selling new models in the US. Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska sued TP-Link for allegedly deceiving consumers about its China ties and router…
Four states sue TP-Link over China ties
Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska filed lawsuits yesterday alleging TP-Link lied to consumers about its connections to China and the risks of routers being exploited by Chinese state hackers.
FCC ban blocks TP-Link's new routers
The lawsuits come six months after the Federal Communications Commission announced a sweeping ban on consumer-grade routers produced wholly or partly outside the US. TP-Link has not received an exemption.
Other router makers got exemptions
Router makers that received exemptions include Netgear, Asus, Adtran, Amazon and its Eero subsidiary, Calix, Nokia and SpaceX's Starlink division. TP-Link cannot sell its latest Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US.
Florida AG: routers exploited by Chinese hackers
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers in American homes. He seeks an injunction, restitution for Florida consumers and financial penalties under Florida law.
“Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers sitting in American living rooms.”
TP-Link moved to California in 2024
TP-Link was founded in China but moved its headquarters to California in October 2024 amid investigations into high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government, including a botnet of TP-Link routers.
TP-Link denies the lawsuits' claims
Steve Kovsky, TP-Link's corporate affairs officer, said the coordinated lawsuits are built on false premises and unfairly penalize an industry-leading US company. TP-Link says its devices are manufactured in Vietnam.
“The coordinated lawsuits are built on false premises. They do nothing to advance national security while unfairly penalizing an industry-leading US company.”
Florida AG calls TP-Link's defense fiction
Uthmeier said TP-Link's claim of splitting from China and building products in Vietnam is fiction. A Bloomberg article from April 2025 said all components except 0.5 percent are imported from China.
“TP-Link confirmed that, aside from components bought in Vietnam that account for 0.5 percent of the total value of inputs to the plant there, all other components are imported from China.”
TP-Link seeks FCC exemption from ban
In April, TP-Link met with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's office and said it is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring manufacturing and research to the US and already employs over 550 US employees.
FCC process requires security clearance
The FCC process requires each router maker to obtain a determination from the Department of Defense or Department of Homeland Security that its devices do not pose national security risks before exemptions are granted.
TP-Link says new products in approval process
TP-Link told the FCC that existing products remain available for sale in the US and that new products are going through the FCC's standard approval process like other router makers.
The one thing
Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska sued TP-Link for allegedly deceiving consumers about its China ties and router security risks, as the company remains unable to sell new Wi-Fi 8 models under an FCC ban.
