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Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the state is suing TP-Link for allegedly lying about the safety of its routers and their ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In a video clip posted on X, Uthmeier stated that Chinese state-sponsored hackers have exploited TP-Link routers in American homes. He noted that many affected models cannot update themselves automatically and that TP-Link has stopped supporting them. Additionally, Uthmeier claimed that TP-Link told Floridians they split from China and build products in the U.S., but this is fiction according to his office.

According to Uthmeier, research and manufacturing remain rooted in China, with less than 1% of parts in a specific Vietnam plant actually coming from there. He further stated that TP-Link now claims to have separated from a company designated by the Pentagon as an arm of the Chinese military. The federal government first investigated the company in 2024, with inquiries opened by the Departments of Commerce, Defense, and Justice regarding unfair trade practices and national security threats. While TP-Link argues it separated from its Chinese parent in 2024 and has manufactured routers in Vietnam since 2018, the federal government continues to examine these allegations.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has banned the import of new consumer routers, a rule that would affect American brands like Cisco and Netgear as well. These companies avoided the ban by applying for conditional approval, which TP-Link also sought, though it is unclear if they have received one yet. Even without this approval, TP-Link could continue selling existing router models in the U.S. This lawsuit is not isolated; Iowa, Nebraska, and Montana have also filed cases against TP-Link for similar reasons, with their attorneys general stating the goal is to protect citizens from the CCP.