The threat posed by Chinese-made Wi-Fi routers is growing. TP-Link Technology In the United States, two members of Congress have called for an investigation.
Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chair of the House Select Committee on U.S.-China Strategic Competition, have called on the Commerce Department to investigate the company to confirm the threat.
TP-Link is the largest Wi-Fi product provider in the world and the leading Wi-Fi router provider in the U.S. The routers are manufactured in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), where the company is based, raising concerns that this could make it easier for state-sponsored hackers to compromise the routers and infiltrate U.S. systems.
In addition to these concerns, TP-Link is subject to China’s national security law, which requires Chinese vendors to hand over sensitive data to Chinese intelligence agencies.
“TP-Link’s extraordinary vulnerability and obligation to comply with Chinese law are disturbing in and of themselves.” The letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stated:“Combined with the general use of SOHOs by the Chinese government [small office/home office] “If routers like TP-Link’s could be used to launch a major cyberattack in the United States, that’s extremely worrying.”
The two lawmakers are asking Secretary of State Raimondo to submit a threat assessment and mitigation plan by the end of August.
