Attorneys general from Florida, Iowa, Montana, and Nebraska have filed a lawsuit against TP-Link. The plaintiffs allege that the company misled consumers regarding the security of its routers and failed to disclose the extent of its ties to China.
According to Circana data, TP-Link holds a 36.6% share of the US consumer router market by unit volume and 31% by revenue. The lawsuit claims the company relies on Chinese suppliers for research, development, and production, despite public assertions of shifting operations to Vietnam.
The complaint states that only 0.5% of components are sourced in Vietnam, with the remainder coming from or through China. Furthermore, the lawsuit alleges that the company's HomeShield security software failed to provide the promised protection, citing vulnerabilities exploited by groups linked to China.
TP-Link has denied all allegations, labeling them as based on false premises. The company maintains that it is a US-based entity that does not share customer data with foreign governments and complies with all relevant privacy and data protection laws.
In March 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented a ban on the import of new foreign-made router models, requiring special exemptions for new equipment approvals. This regulation does not apply to previously approved devices.
