TP-Link Wi-Fi routers could soon be banned in the US

TP-Link is one of the most popular Wi-Fi router brands in the US, but it may soon face difficulties in the country, as a movement to potentially ban its routers is gaining traction. According to a recent report by The Washington Post, more than six federal departments and agencies are backing a proposal that could result in TP-Link routers being banned from being sold in the US.

This saga started last year when The Wall Street Journal reported that investigators at the Commerce, Defense, and Justice departments had all launched probes into the company because of concerns about its potential to be a national security threat due to its connections with China.

TP-Link Systems vehemently denies any allegations that its routers pose a national security or cybersecurity threat and asserts that it’s a US company entirely independent of TP-Link Technologies, a Chinese company (via CNET).

“TP-Link is a US company that is committed to the highest ethical standards, operates in full legal compliance, and implements robust cybersecurity practices,” TP-Link Systems said in response to a US House Select Committee meeting back in March. “We are committed to cooperating with the US government and industry on cybersecurity and no government has access to or control over the design and production of our routers.”

It’s possible that a ban might not happen

TP-Link has a 36 percent market share of networking devices in the US

Currently, it’s uncertain whether any ban on TP-Link routers in the US will actually take effect. According to The Washington Post, the matter is now in the hands of the Department of Commerce. However, it appears that the Commerce department has not yet made a final decision on the matter. According to the Post’s sources, this may be due to the ongoing trade negotiations between the Trump Administration and China.

President Trump recently met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, on the sidelines of the APEC Summit. During the meeting, the US and China reached an agreement that involves the US lowering tariffs on China, while China agreed to resume buying soybeans from the US and delay its export control restrictions on rare earth minerals for a year. The Post reports its sources said that the Trump Administration viewed TP-Link as a potential “bargaining chip” in future trade talks.

TP-Link reportedly holds a 36 percent share of the US consumer networking market, which means a lot of American households and businesses use its routers. If you have a TP-Link router, it’s understandable to be concerned about these allegations. However, it’s worth noting that, as of now, there is no public evidence that its routers have been used for spying (via PCMag). Nevertheless, there is also a possibility that the government is aware of security vulnerabilities that are not yet in the public sphere. As it stands, this is a wait-and-see situation, and if the ban goes through, it could have significant implications for the networking market in the US due to TP-Link’s large presence.