Trojan Routers: Texas Sues TP-Link Over Alleged CCP Surveillance and Supply Chain Deception

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has officially filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Systems Inc., accusing the global networking giant of deceptively marketing its Wi-Fi routers and smart home devices while secretly exposing American consumers to surveillance by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The lawsuit, which marks a significant escalation in state-level cybersecurity enforcement, alleges that TP-Link’s hardware acts as a Trojan horse for foreign intelligence gathering.

For years, TP-Link has dominated the consumer market with affordable, high-performance networking gear, touting robust privacy and security features. However, the Texas Attorney General’s office claims this marketing is a dangerous façade.

According to the lawsuit, TP-Link’s products have actively “been used by People’s Republic of China’s (“PRC”) state-sponsored hacking entities to launch multiple cyber-attack operations against the United States.”

The core of the issue lies in the company’s supply chain and corporate obligations. Because TP-Link’s ownership and manufacturing base are deeply tied to China—with nearly all product parts imported from the region—the company is subject to the PRC’s stringent national data laws. These laws mandate that Chinese citizens and firms must “support PRC intelligence services by divulging Americans’ data.”

The Attorney General argues that TP-Link’s deliberate deception regarding its nationality and the true security capabilities of its devices constitutes not just illegal business practices, but a severe national security threat that “enables the secret surveillance and exploitation of Texas consumers.”

This legal action is the culmination of an intensive investigation into TP-Link that Attorney General Paxton first announced in October 2025.

“This week, my office is launching a coordinated series of actions against CCP-aligned companies to send a clear message that in the Lone Star State we will always put Texas and America First,” said Attorney General Paxton. “TP Link will face the full force of the law for putting Americans’ security at risk. Let this serve as a clear warning to any Chinese entity seeking to compromise our nation’s security.”

The legal pressure is being mirrored by immediate administrative action. Acknowledging the severe risk posed by compromised networking equipment, Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently updated the state’s list of prohibited technologies, officially banning TP-Link devices for all state employees and on all state-owned devices.

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