Friday, October 10

Paxton investigates TP-Link over alleged ties to Chinese government and misuse of consumer data

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into TP-Link Systems Inc., a major networking equipment manufacturer, over concerns that the company may be enabling the Chinese government to access and misuse the personal data of American consumers, including Texans.

File Photo (September 2025)

TP-Link, originally founded in Shenzhen, China, has become one of the largest suppliers of office and home networking equipment in the United States. Though the company now claims to operate independently from China under a California-based spin-off, the Attorney General’s Office is questioning the validity of those claims. The investigation will focus on the company’s ownership structure, production practices, and any continuing connections to the Chinese Communist Party.

Concerns include the potential presence of “back doors” in TP-Link devices that could allow unauthorized access to users’ network traffic, enable surveillance, or facilitate botnet operations.

“If Big Tech is giving Chinese communists access to Americans’ data, there is no question that they’re using that data against us,” Paxton stated. “I will not allow any company to sell us out to our greatest geopolitical enemy. If TP-Link is violating Texas law and jeopardizing Americans, my office will do everything in our power to hold them accountable.”

The investigation will determine whether TP-Link misrepresented its independence from China, whether its products pose a greater security risk than those of U.S.-based competitors, and whether its devices violate Texas privacy laws through improper data collection or disclosure.

This action follows a previous privacy notice violation issued by the Attorney General’s Office earlier this year, for which TP-Link allegedly failed to provide an adequate response.

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