US Government Moves to Ban TP-Link Routers Over National Security Risks Linked to China

Multiple U.S. agencies led by the Department of Commerce are considering whether to ban future sales of TP-Link home routers due to national security concerns related to China.

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No final decision has been made yet.

Android Authority

Reports consistently mention broad interagency support and an open process.

The Department of Commerce is expected to notify TP-Link and allow the company to raise objections before any enforcement action is taken.

Investigations began last year to evaluate risks associated with possible Chinese government influence and the management of sensitive American data.

TP-Link Systems, the U.S.-based entity formed after a corporate split, denies any wrongdoing and states it operates independently of Chinese control.

The security rationale centers on investigations and reported exploitation of consumer routers in cyber operations.

There are claims that Chinese state-sponsored hackers leveraged TP-Link devices against U.S. critical infrastructure in the 2024 Salt Typhoon attacks.

AzerNews

At the same time, several outlets stress that no public or direct evidence of spying through TP-Link routers has been produced.

TP-Link denies any wrongdoing or ties to Beijing.

Lawmakers have pressed for action, while agencies scrutinize risks involving data handling and potential influence by Chinese authorities.

There is significant divergence in reports about what any restriction would cover and how it would be implemented.

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Some outlets say a ban would halt future sales while letting existing devices stay online.

Others say authorities could restrict or remove equipment from networks, potentially requiring remediation.

Another source even describes a ban on both the sale and use of the equipment.

The process described ranges from a 30-day objection window to a two-phase, sixty-day decision cycle.

One report suggests approval could slip as far as 2026.

Market impact and competition assessments differ significantly across reports.

Some sources claim TP-Link leads the U.S. home router market with about one-third of the share.

CNET

Others estimate its share to be close to two-thirds.

At least one report states TP-Link holds under 10% of the North American market.

These variations highlight substantial disagreement on the company's market position.

Pricing investigations also vary in description and intensity.

Some reports mention a criminal antitrust investigation into alleged predatory pricing.

Others say the Department of Justice is probing or monitoring what they call "aggressive pricing."

TP-Link denies allegations that it sells products below cost.

Corporate structure, mitigation options, and geopolitics are framed differently across sources.

“The US Commerce Department has proposed banning TP-Link routers following a sweeping interagency assessment that concluded the devices pose a national security risk due to ongoing ties with China”

CyberInsider

Some say TP-Link Systems was spun out in 2022 and is independent and U.S.-based; others report a split into two entities in 2024 or simply that the spin-off happened “last year.”

CyberInsider

The company emphasizes U.S. operations with its headquarters in Irvine and offers to onshore development and increase cybersecurity transparency.

One outlet notes manufacturing takes place in Vietnam.

Several reports suggest U.S.–China trade talks could shape outcomes, ranging from claims the case could be used as leverage or is on hold due to negotiations.

One report cites a Trump–Xi meeting as potentially influential.

Observers add that any ban would echo other national-security technology actions and could be among the largest consumer technology restrictions if enacted.