US Politicians Demand Total Surveillance of TP-Link Routers, Claiming China’s Grip on Global Internet
In a shocking move, two US lawmakers have called for a full-scale probe into China’s TP-Link, the world’s largest manufacturer of Wi-Fi routers, citing "glaring national security issues" and "known vulnerabilities" in their firmware. The demand comes as the US government continues to crack down on perceived threats to its digital sovereignty.
Republican representative John Moolenaar and Democratic representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, co-chairs of the US House Select Committee on China, have written to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, urging her to investigate TP-Link’s potential role in cyberattacks against the US. The lawmakers claim that TP-Link’s routers could be used to target government officials and critical infrastructure, echoing concerns raised by the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency last year.
TP-Link, founded in China in 1996, has denied any wrongdoing, stating that it does not sell routers in the US and that its products do not have cybersecurity vulnerabilities. However, the company’s denials have done little to assuage the concerns of US lawmakers, who are increasingly wary of China’s growing influence in the global internet.
The probe is seen as a major escalation in the US-China tech war, with the Commerce Department holding broad powers to ban or restrict transactions between US firms and companies from "foreign adversary" nations like China. The move is likely to be met with resistance from Beijing, which has repeatedly denied allegations of cyber espionage and intellectual property theft.
As the US government tightens its grip on the internet, critics are warning of a slippery slope towards total surveillance and censorship. "This is a clear attempt to exert control over the global internet and silence dissenting voices," said a spokesperson for the Electronic Frontier Foundation. "We urge the US government to reconsider its aggressive stance and prioritize online freedom and privacy."
The controversy comes as the US government is already cracking down on Chinese tech giants like TikTok, which has been accused of sharing user data with Beijing. The move is seen as part of a broader effort to contain China’s growing influence in the tech sector and protect US national security interests.
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