Two Congressional representatives, Rep. John Moolenaar and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, have brought attention to the growing threat posed by Chinese Wi-Fi routers manufactured by TP-Link Technologies in the United States. The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party has called on the Department of Commerce to investigate TP-Link and assess the potential risks associated with their products.
TP-Link is a major player in the global Wi-Fi market and holds a significant share of the Wi-Fi router market in the US. However, the fact that these routers are manufactured in the People’s Republic of China has raised concerns about the possibility of state-sponsored hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in the hardware to compromise US systems. Additionally, TP-Link is subject to Chinese national security laws, which mandate that Chinese vendors must provide sensitive data to Chinese intelligence agencies.
The letter addressed to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo highlights the troubling combination of vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers and the company’s compliance with Chinese laws. The lawmakers point out that the Chinese government has been known to use small office/home office (SOHO) routers like TP-Link’s for cyberattacks in the US, adding to the sense of alarm surrounding the issue.
In response to these concerns, Rep. Moolenaar and Rep. Krishnamoorthi have requested a threat assessment and mitigation plan from Secretary Raimondo to address the potential risks posed by TP-Link routers. The deadline for this plan is the end of August, indicating the urgency with which the issue is being treated by the lawmakers.
The call for an investigation into TP-Link Technologies comes amid growing tensions between the US and China over cybersecurity and technology issues. The US government has increasingly scrutinized Chinese tech companies and their ties to the Chinese government, citing concerns about national security and the potential for espionage. This latest development further underscores these concerns and highlights the need for vigilance when it comes to foreign-made technology products that could pose a threat to the US.
As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial for the Department of Commerce to thoroughly assess the risks associated with TP-Link routers and develop a comprehensive plan to mitigate any potential threats. The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for the use of Chinese-made technology in critical infrastructure and national security applications, further shaping the ongoing debate around cybersecurity and the role of foreign technology companies in the US market.