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U.S. federal agencies are reportedly considering a significant restriction on TP-Link, a company that produces widely used home internet routers, amid escalating concerns over national security linked to China.

The U.S. Commerce Department, alongside the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Defense, has proposed banning future sales of TP-Link Systems’ devices, a company whose routers reportedly comprise more than a third of the American home router market. The proposal reflects deepening anxieties about the potential for Chinese influence over technology critical to the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure.

TP-Link Systems, headquartered in California and recently spun out from its former Chinese parent company TP-Link Technologies, faces scrutiny for lingering connections with China. Despite the corporate split completed last year, officials remain wary of the company’s ties to Beijing, fearing that such links could expose American consumers’ data to security risks.

In May, several Republican lawmakers, including Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton, advocated for a ban on TP-Link routers. Their concerns have been fueled by investigations revealing that Chinese state-sponsored hackers exploited TP-Link routers in cyberattacks targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, most notably 2024’s Salt Typhoon attacks.

TP-Link has rebuffed these claims, noting that many device brands were compromised in the attacks and that no evidence was presented that the company is connected to China.

The Commerce Department has not yet implemented the proposed ban and may still opt against it. TP-Link Systems contends that it is a U.S.-based firm that poses no threat to consumers. A company spokesperson told The Independent that no official actions or confirmations regarding the ban have been made and that any regulatory concerns can be addressed through practical measures such as onshoring development and enhancing cybersecurity transparency.

The current scrutiny of TP-Link occurs in the broader context of intensifying tensions between the U.S. and China, particularly over technology and trade disputes. This move parallels actions taken against other Chinese technology firms like TikTok, where U.S. regulators have similarly cited national security as a basis for restricting Chinese influence on American digital infrastructure.

In addition to national security concerns, TP-Link Systems is facing a criminal antitrust investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The investigation focuses on the company’s pricing strategies, specifically allegations of predatory pricing. The case suggests that TP-Link may be deliberately selling products at a loss in order to monopolise the market, before increasing prices at a later time.

TP-Link currently controls about 65% of the U.S. home networking market. As such, the potential ban on TP-Link devices would represent one of the largest consumer technology prohibitions in recent U.S. history.

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