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TP-Link problems in US grow amid FCC router ban and four state lawsuits
Ars Technica • • business
Key Points:
- Florida, Montana, Iowa, and Nebraska have filed lawsuits against TP-Link, accusing the company of misleading consumers about its ties to China and the security risks of its routers being exploited by Chinese state hackers.
- The lawsuits allege TP-Link committed unfair and deceptive trade practices, with Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stating that Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers in American homes.
- TP-Link denies the allegations, asserting it is a US-based company manufacturing devices in Vietnam, and claims the lawsuits are based on false premises that unfairly harm the company.
- The state lawsuits challenge TP-Link’s claims about its separation from China, citing Bloomberg reports that most components are still sourced from China and highlighting ongoing ties to Chinese military contractors and vulnerabilities to foreign intelligence exploitation.
- TP-Link’s efforts to obtain an FCC exemption to sell new routers in the US have stalled amid a broader FCC ban on foreign-made routers due to national security concerns, while industry groups seek regulatory changes to ease equipment upgrades amid supply chain issues.
