Four US states sue TP-Link — Ars Technica
Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska have filed lawsuits in the United States against network equipment manufacturer TP-Link. The states’ attorneys general claim that the company misled consumers about the security of its routers, the risks of their use in cyberattacks, and its ties to China, Ars Technica reports.
The texts of the lawsuits are almost identical and are based on state consumer protection laws. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said that Chinese state-backed hackers allegedly used TP-Link routers installed in American homes. Florida is seeking an injunction, compensation for consumers and financial penalties.
TP-Link’s position
TP-Link rejected the allegations, calling the coordinated lawsuits based on false premises. Company representative Steve Kowalski said that TP-Link Systems is an independent American company that is not owned or controlled by any foreign government. According to him, TP-Link devices for the US market are manufactured in Vietnam.
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The company also said that it complies with US privacy and data protection laws, conducts comprehensive security testing, and does not transfer customers’ network data to foreign governments or unauthorized third parties.
FCC restrictions
The lawsuits were filed approximately six months after the US Federal Communications Commission announced a broad ban on consumer routers manufactured wholly or partly outside the United States. Exemptions from the restrictions have already been granted to Netgear, Asus, Amazon and its subsidiary Eero, Nokia, and SpaceX’s Starlink division, among others.
TP-Link does not yet have such an exemption and therefore cannot sell new Wi-Fi 8 routers in the United States. At the same time, models approved before the ban was introduced remain available on the US market. To obtain an exemption, a manufacturer must receive an opinion from the US Department of Defense or the US Department of Homeland Security stating that there are no national security threats, and must also submit a justification for foreign production and a plan to establish or expand it in the United States.
