The U.S. Commerce Department and several federal agencies have floated a ban on future TP-Link Systems devices, citing national-security concerns related to ownership and control. If enacted, the move would affect routers that dominate the U.S. home networking market, according to industry reporting.
TP-Link Systems is California-based but traces its roots to a Chinese parent company. Officials argue lingering ties to Beijing could expose American consumers’ data to security risks, despite the company’s recent spin‑out from its former parent.
Political pressure has grown, with Republican lawmakers urging action against TP-Link’s routers amid investigations that Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited such devices in cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, including incidents linked to the Salt Typhoon campaign in 2024.
TP-Link has rebuffed the allegations, emphasizing that it operates as a U.S.-based firm and has no stated ties to China that would threaten consumers. A spokesperson told media outlets that there have been no official actions and that regulatory concerns could be addressed through offshoring or onshoring development and improving cybersecurity transparency.
The proposal appears within a broader context of U.S.-China tech tensions and echoes other regulatory moves targeting Chinese technology. Separately, reports have emerged of a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust inquiry into TP-Link’s pricing practices, alleging predatory pricing to dominate the market. If enacted, the potential ban would mark one of the most significant consumer-technology restrictions in recent history.
