- Texas Attorney General Sues TP-Link for Ties to China, Breaching Security Promises
- Chinese components are behind the “Made in Vietnam” label, says Paxton
- Data collection and multiple vulnerabilities also cited in the lawsuit
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued networking and router giant TP-Link over alleged ties to China, alleging the company misled consumers about its country of origin, misrepresented its privacy and security protections and failed to disclose its Chinese affiliations and legal obligations.
Paxton’s lawsuit says TP-Link claims its U.S.-bound products are manufactured in Vietnam, but Vietnam is the location of TP-Link’s final assembly and the vast majority of parts are imported from China, Texas claims.
Paxton argues that the “Made in Vietnam” label is a misleading geographic designation under state law.
Texas sues TP-Link over China ties, security claims
TextOn the security front, Paxton takes on TP-Link’s HomeShield which promises to be a “100% backup” covering “all security scenarios” against cyberthreats and IoT attacks. However, several reported vulnerabilities, including the Volt Typhoon, Flax Typhoon, and Salt Typhoon campaigns, an SQL injection flaw, and password spraying, have all made headlines in recent years.
The lawsuit also affects other TP-Link apps, such as Kasa, Tapo, Deco and Tether, which collect email addresses, precise locations and device identifiers.
Given TP-Link’s market position (approximately 65% of the U.S. network device market), Texas is seeking civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation (higher for consumers aged 65 and older), a jury trial, damages of up to $1 million, and several injunctions.
However, the networking company isn’t too concerned about the lawsuit, which it says is “baseless and will be proven false.” A spokesperson also noted that TP-Link Systems Inc. (the exact division Paxton sought) is an independent U.S. company, which manages its primary operations and infrastructure in the United States.
“We will continue to vigorously defend our reputation as a trusted provider of secure connectivity for American families,” they added.
“TP Link will face the full force of the law for endangering the safety of Americans. Let this serve as a clear warning to any Chinese entity seeking to compromise our nation’s security,” Paxton wrote.
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