Texas AG Probes TP-Link for Allegedly Aiding Chinese Government
Networking equipment manufacturer TP-Link Systems may be aiding the Chinese government in accessing and abusing American consumers’ data, said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) Monday as he announced an investigation into the company.
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TP-Link, which was founded in China, has in recent years established a spinoff with new California headquarters and maintains that it's “fully independent of Chinese ties,” according to the AG office's press release. Despite that, questions remain about connections, ownership structure and, specifically, “concerns that the company may have back doors to provide the Chinese government with control of TP Link equipment to access consumers’ network traffic and run bot networks,” the release added.
“If Big Tech is giving Chinese communists access to Americans’ data, there is no question that they’re using that data against us,” Paxton said in the release. “If TP Link is violating Texas law and jeopardizing Americans, my office will do everything in our power to hold them accountable.”
TP-Link did not respond to a request for comment.
Paxton previously issued a privacy notice violation against TP-Link and several other Chinese-based companies for violating Texans’ privacy rights (see 2505060035).