Allegedly spying on US homes: Texas files lawsuit against TP-Link
TP-Link has long been criticized in the US due to its connections to China. Now Texas is taking legal action with drastic accusations.
(Image: Skrypnykov Dmytro / Shutterstock.com)
The US state of Texas has filed a lawsuit against TP-Link, accusing the router manufacturer of misleading advertising and of allowing the Chinese Communist Party access to devices in US homes. Attorney General Ken Paxton made this public. The Republican is currently in the primary election campaign for a seat in the US Senate. The lawsuit is said to be the first of several aimed at preventing companies with ties to China's Communist Party from harming Texans. The action against TP-Link should be understood as a clear warning in China. The move followed investigations initiated in October. TP-Link has assured Reuters that it intends to "vigorously defend" its reputation. The allegations are false.
TP-Link has long been in the crosshairs in the US
Contrary to TP-Link's claims about data protection and security, the company's products have been "used by state-sponsored hacking organizations of the People's Republic of China to carry out cyberattacks on the US," Paxton claims. Due to connections to China through its owners and supply chain, the company is subject to the laws of the People's Republic. Therefore, the manufacturer is obliged to pass on data from US citizens. Since almost all parts of the routers are imported from the country, the company's deception about this is "not only illegal but also a threat to national security." After all, it would enable the secret surveillance of people in Texas. The lawsuit can be viewed online.
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TP-Link was founded in China three decades ago, but was later split. Although the group has since consisted of a US and a Chinese part, the California-based entity still conducts a substantial portion of its business in China. TP-Link routers are among the most widespread in the US, but there is uncertainty about the exact market share. Earlier this year, the US Department of Justice launched investigations to determine whether TP-Link has been deliberately undercutting competitors with predatory pricing to secure market share and then raise prices after driving other manufacturers out of the market. Due to alleged security risks, the routers faced a US sales ban, but this is currently off the table.
(mho)
