The US government has expressed concerns about the potential cybersecurity risks associated with TP-Link Wi-Fi routers. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, these routers may be linked to cyberattacks, and there are discussions about banning them entirely from the US market starting in 2025.
The concern is significant, considering that TP-Link dominates 65% of the American market for home and small business routers, and their devices are among the top-selling products on marketplaces.
The US Department of Commerce has already summoned TP-Link representatives to court to investigate whether these popular routers pose a threat to national security. This development is reminiscent of the situation with Huawei and ZTE, which were banned from the US market after being accused of spying and facing sanctions.
China's ambassador to the US, Liu Pengyu, has denied the allegations, saying that the US is using this as a pretext to restrict Chinese companies. He added that Beijing is prepared to defend their interests, but the issue of a potential ban remains open.