Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined the attorneys general of three other Republican states, including Nebraska, Montana and Iowa, to file a lawsuit against TP-Link for allegedly lying to customers about its connections to China.
In March, the Federal Communications Commission announced a ban on consumer-grade routers produced wholly or partly outside the U.S., citing President Donald Trump's goal to reduce the use of foreign technology to protect national security.
Due to the ban, TP-Link has not been able to sell its newest router in the U.S. as it was not one of the companies granted an exemption from the ban. The company was founded in China, but moved its headquarters to California in October 2024, although the company claims its manufacturing takes place in Vietnam.
"For months, California-based TP-Link Systems has provided state regulators with clear, verifiable documentation demonstrating two fundamental facts: TP-Link Systems devices sold in the U.S. are manufactured in Vietnam and TP-Link Systems is an independent, U.S. company that is not owned or controlled by any foreign government.
"Any claims that our products present a threat to user security or grant unauthorized network access to foreign governments are baseless. TP-Link Systems is a U.S. company that complies with U.S. privacy and data protection laws," a press release responding to the lawsuit said.
Uthmeier said that is untrue, and the company has ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
"Research and manufacturing remain rooted in China," Uthmeier said in an X video announcing the lawsuit, adding that less than 1% of the parts used in the Vietnam manufacturing plant actually come from Vietnam.
"TP-Link sold Floridians the digital front door to their home network while misrepresenting how secure it was, how separated the company was from China, and what could happen to their data," Uthmeier wrote in the caption of an X post announcing the lawsuit.
Today, we sued TP-Link for lying about the safety of its routers and its ties to the CCP.
TP-Link sold Floridians the digital front door to their home network while misrepresenting how secure it was, how separated the company was from China, and what could happen to their data. https://t.co/Hg3czpNvEV
— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) October 6, 2026
He said Chinese-sponsored state hackers exploited TP-Link routers owned by Americans.
"Floridians, including our seniors, veterans and service members deserve the truth about the products they bring into their homes," Uthmeier said. "We will not allow families to be misled into handing their personal data to the Chinese Communist Party."
TP-Link plans to fight the allegations in court.
