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Texas Sues Wi-Fi Router Maker Over Alleged China Links
State AG Ken Paxton alleges TP-Link concealed its Chinese supply chain, exposing U.S. users to cybersecurity risks.
Published on Feb. 19, 2026
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The state of Texas is suing TP-Link Systems, a California-based maker of Wi-Fi routers, accusing the company of concealing its ties to China and potentially exposing American users' home networks to hackers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton alleges that TP-Link, which was founded in China in 1996, has a supply chain "deeply entrenched in China" where nearly all of its components are sourced before being shipped to Vietnam for final assembly.
Why it matters
The lawsuit claims that TP-Link's supply chain ties leave the company vulnerable to the Chinese Communist Party's counterespionage and national security laws, which require Chinese companies to assist state intelligence efforts, including providing foreign user data upon request. The complaint also alleges that firmware vulnerabilities in TP-Link hardware have already 'exposed millions of consumers to severe cybersecurity risks.'
The details
Paxton first began investigating TP-Link in October 2025, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has since prohibited state employees from using TP-Link products. The lawsuit seeks up to $10,000 for each violation of Texas's Deceptive Trade Practices Act, or up to $250,000 per violation if the affected consumer is 65 or older. The legal action comes about a year after TP-Link was singled out at a House hearing, during which a retired NSA cybersecurity expert linked its devices to a major hacking campaign by Chinese state-backed actors.
- In October 2025, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton began investigating TP-Link.
- In December, Paxton's office filed separate privacy lawsuits against Hisense and TCL, both subsidiaries of China-based firms.
The players
Ken Paxton
The Texas Attorney General who announced the lawsuit against TP-Link and has described it as part of a "coordinated series of actions against CCP-aligned companies".
Greg Abbott
The Texas Governor who has prohibited state employees from using TP-Link products.
TP-Link Systems
A California-based maker of Wi-Fi routers that is being sued by Texas for allegedly concealing its ties to China and exposing American users to cybersecurity risks.
Rob Joyce
A retired NSA cybersecurity expert who linked TP-Link devices to a major hacking campaign by Chinese state-backed actors during a House hearing.
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on whether to allow TP-Link to continue selling its products in Texas while the lawsuit proceeds.
The takeaway
This lawsuit highlights growing concerns about the cybersecurity risks posed by Chinese-made technology products, and the efforts by some U.S. states to limit the presence of such products within their borders.
