US reportedly proposing ban on TP-Link routers over China ties

The U.S. Commerce Department, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense were reported by The Washington Post to have partnered to propose prohibiting future sales of TP-Link Systems routers, citing national security risks linked to the company's past connections to China, reports Cybernews.

Officials believe that California-based TP-Link Systems which controls about 36% of the home router market may still be influenced by Beijing, exposing Americans to surveillance risks, even though the firm was spun off from China-based TP-Link Technologies.

Commerce officials reportedly found that no mitigation measures short of a ban would reduce the threat. The proposal, however, could still be revised to allow TP-Link to offer guarantees that its hardware and software are developed independently of China.

The move follows earlier U.S. bans on foreign tech tied to security concerns, including Kaspersky Lab software in 2024. TP-Link Systems denied the allegations, saying it has fully separated from its former parent company.