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TP-Link faces new legal challenges in the US as Florida and three other states filed lawsuits alleging the company lied to consumers about its connections to China. The suits claim TP-Link misled buyers regarding the safety of its routers, which prosecutors say are vulnerable to exploitation by Chinese state-sponsored hackers. These actions were taken six months after the Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on consumer-grade routers produced outside the US, though TP-Link has not received an exemption like other manufacturers such as Netgear and Asus. Consequently, TP-Link cannot currently sell its latest Wi-Fi 8 routers in the US, although older approved models remain available.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that Chinese hackers have exploited TP-Link routers in American homes and that the company has been deceptive about its ties to the Communist Party. Although TP-Link moved its headquarters to California in October 2024 following investigations into government-linked attacks, Uthmeier argues that research and manufacturing remain rooted in China. The lawsuits cite a Bloomberg report from April 2025 stating that aside from components worth 0.5 percent of the total value imported from Vietnam, all other parts come from China. TP-Link’s corporate affairs officer, Steve Kovsky, dismissed these claims as false premises designed to unfairly penalize a US company while offering no national security benefit.

TP-Link insists it is an independent US company not controlled by any foreign government and that its devices are manufactured in Vietnam. The company stated it performs comprehensive security testing and does not share customer data with foreign governments. Meanwhile, the FCC process requires router makers to prove their devices do not pose national security risks and to provide a plan for US manufacturing. TP-Link told regulators it employs over 550 people in the US and is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to bring production there. The company confirmed its existing products are still being sold while new ones undergo standard approval, though no further updates on its exemption application have been released.