On February 17, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton formally filed a lawsuit against TP-Link Technology Systems Co., Ltd. (TP-Link), accusing the company of deceptive marketing of its network equipment and allowing state-sponsored hackers to access the home devices of American consumers. This case marks the official kickoff of a series of lawsuits launched by Attorney General Paxton this week against companies with ties to China, aiming to prevent related companies from harming the interests of the people of Texas.
The indictment points out that although TP-Link claims that its products have privacy protection and security, its equipment has been used by Chinese state-backed hacking entities to launch multiple cyber attacks against the United States. Additionally, TP-Link's ownership structure and supply chain are closely tied to China. Based on these connections, TP-Link is subject to China’s national data laws, which require Chinese citizens and businesses to support national intelligence services by leaking U.S. data. Given that most of the components of its products are imported from China, TP-Link’s deliberate deception of the people of Texas about the nationality, privacy, and security capabilities of its devices is not only illegal, but also constitutes a national security threat, facilitating the secret surveillance and exploitation of Texas consumers.
Attorney General Paxton said: "This week, my office is launching a series of coordinated actions targeting companies allied with the Chinese Communist Party to send a clear message: In the Lone Star State, we will always put Texas and the United States first. TP-Link will face the full force of the law for putting the safety of Americans at risk. This is also a clear warning to any Chinese entity seeking to jeopardize our national security."
This lawsuit is a follow-up to Attorney General Paxton’s October 2025 announcement of an investigation into TP-Link. Paxton has taken action against multiple companies with ties to the Chinese Communist Party as part of a broader effort to protect Texans' data from illegal exploitation. In addition, Texas Governor Abbott recently updated the list of banned technologies for state government employees and equipment to include TP-Link. The announcement is the first of several lawsuits the Attorney General's Office will file this week as part of a coordinated effort to hold China accountable under Texas law.