A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers is urging the Department of Commerce to investigate and potentially ban the sale of TP-Link networking equipment in the United States, citing national security concerns over the Chinese company’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its dominant presence in the U.S. router market.
In a letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the legislators expressed alarm over TP-Link’s significant market share—reportedly around 65% of the U.S. home and small business router market—and the potential risks this poses to national security. They highlighted concerns that TP-Link’s devices could be exploited by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to infiltrate American networks, especially given past incidents where vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers were allegedly used in cyberattacks targeting government officials in Europe.
“TP-Link’s deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party, use of predatory pricing to eliminate trusted U.S. alternatives, and role in embedding foreign surveillance and destructive capabilities into our networks render it a clear and present danger,” the lawmakers wrote.
The letter also pointed to TP-Link’s alleged non-compliance with industry efforts to mitigate Chinese state-sponsored botnets and its refusal to participate in initiatives aimed at enhancing cybersecurity.
In response, TP-Link has denied the allegations, stating that the claims are “categorically false” and part of a smear campaign intended to remove a competitor from the marketplace. The company emphasized that it operates independently of its Chinese parent company, TP-Link Technologies Co., following a corporate restructuring completed in October 2024. TP-Link also noted that its products have been manufactured in Vietnam since 2018, aiming to distance itself from Chinese influence.
Despite these assertions, the Department of Justice has reportedly initiated a criminal antitrust investigation into TP-Link’s pricing strategies, examining whether the company engaged in predatory pricing practices that could harm competitors not considered national security threats. The investigation also explores potential national security risks associated with TP-Link’s growing market share.
The Commerce Department, empowered by Executive Order 13873, has broad authority to ban or restrict transactions between U.S. firms and foreign adversary nations if their products pose a national security risk. This executive order has previously been used to prohibit the use of telecommunications and surveillance technology from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE.
As the investigation unfolds, consumers and businesses using TP-Link products are advised to stay informed about potential developments and consider the security implications of their networking equipment choices.