The line between civilian infrastructure and national security is becoming ever thinner. The latest evidence of this is the lawsuit brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against TP-Link Systems. This litigation, although taking place in a courtroom, strikes at the foundations of trust in global supply chains for network equipment used by millions of households and businesses.
The main axis of the accusation centres on allegedly misleading consumers about the origin and safety of the products. Texas claims that, despite TP-Link’s Californian headquarters, almost all of the devices’ components come from China, supposedly opening the door to Beijing-controlled operations. Paxton goes a step further, suggesting that the devices have already been used as tools in cyber attacks on the US.
However, TP-Link is not about to back down, announcing that it will defend its reputation. The company’s strategy is based on a hard operational separation from its Chinese roots. The manufacturer’s representatives emphasise that critical infrastructure and US user data are stored on Amazon Web Services servers in the US, and that the Chinese government has no control over the company. The data localisation argument is becoming the strongest bargaining chip in the hands of global technology players.
The TP-Link case is not an isolated incident, but part of a wider puzzle. Texas has already banned its officials from using the brand’s devices, and Paxton’s actions are part of a wider trend of policies towards China that the administration in Washington is also promoting. Significantly, the lawsuit comes at a time when federal attempts to block sales of the company’s products have been halted.
