Attorneys general from Florida, Iowa, Montana, and Nebraska have filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Systems. The complaint alleges that the company misled consumers regarding the security capabilities of its routers and its ties to the Chinese supply chain.
According to Circana data, TP-Link holds a 36.6% share of the US router market by volume and 31% by sales value as of 2024. The lawsuit claims that while the company stated it shifted production to Vietnam, only 0.5% of the components in its Vietnamese factory by value originate from Vietnam, with the remainder sourced from China.
The plaintiffs allege that a company linked to the Chinese military participated in the construction of the Vietnamese facility. Furthermore, the lawsuit cites testimony from former NSA official Rob Joyce, noting that TP-Link routers were utilized in cyberattacks attributed to groups like Volt Typhoon and Flax Typhoon.
The complaint challenges TP-Link's marketing claims, specifically the assertion that its HomeShield service provides 100% network security, which the states argue contradicts known product vulnerabilities. TP-Link executive Steve Coffsky rejected the allegations, stating they are based on false premises and unfairly target the company.
TP-Link maintains that its US-market products are manufactured in Vietnam and that it operates as an independent US entity. The company denies providing user data to foreign governments and asserts that its products do not pose security threats.
