- Texas AG Ken Paxton announced the opening of an investigation into TP-Link Systems Inc. (“TP Link”)—a leading manufacturer of networking equipment founded in China—to determine whether the company has misled consumers about its independence from the Chinese government, whether its technology is more vulnerable to exploitation than comparable domestic products, and whether its devices improperly collect or disclose consumer data in violation of Texas privacy law.
- According to the press release, AG Paxton seeks to investigate the company’s claims of operational independence following the creation of a “spin-off” with headquarters in California. He stated that the investigation will examine TP-Link’s ownership structure, production practices, and ongoing connections to the Chinese government, including whether its equipment enables government access to user networks or botnet activity.
- The investigation follows AG Paxton’s issuance of a privacy notice violation to TP Link and other companies earlier this year that AG Paxton had asserted were associated with the Chinese government, after which the AG concluded that TP Link failed to provide an adequate response.
- We have previously reported AG concerns about data collection by companies with alleged ties to China, including a lawsuit by Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers against a home security camera company and a request by Republican AGs for Congress to ban DeepSeek AI from government devices.