Brief
Florida sues TP-Link over alleged security risks and China ties
The suits claim the company hid risks that Chinese hackers could exploit its devices.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska filed lawsuits on Oct. 7 alleging TP-Link misled U.S. consumers about the safety of its routers and its connections to the Chinese government, according to Ars Technica.
What happened
The complaints were lodged in a Florida county court and follow the FCC's recent ban on consumer‑grade routers made wholly or partly abroad. TP-Link, which moved its headquarters to California in Oct. 2024, cannot sell its newest Wi‑Fi 8 models in the United States, though older approved units remain on the market.
What the reports add
Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state seeks an injunction, restitution for consumers and financial penalties, asserting that "Chinese state‑sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers sitting in American living rooms." TP‑Link’s corporate affairs officer Steve Kovsky called the lawsuits "false premises" that unfairly penalize the company.
What was said
Uthmeier told the court the state will not allow families to hand personal data to the Chinese Communist Party. TP‑Link responded that its devices sold in the U.S. are manufactured in Vietnam and that the firm is independent of any foreign government.
Key facts
- Florida, Montana, Iowa and Nebraska sued TP-Link for alleged deceptive practices (arstechnica.com)
- The lawsuits claim TP-Link misled consumers about router safety and Chinese ties (arstechnica.com)
- TP-Link moved its headquarters to California in October 2024 (arstechnica.com)
Sources
- [1] arstechnica.com — originally reported as “TP-Link problems in US grow amid FCC router ban and four state lawsuits”
