Reps. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), who serve as chair and ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, have called on the federal government to initiate an investigation into TP-Link Technology Co and its affiliates in response to concerns about cyber attacks originating from China. The lawmakers have labeled this issue a “glaring national security issue.”
In a letter sent to the relevant authorities, Moolenaar and Krishnamoorthi requested a response by August 30th, emphasizing that appropriate action should be taken if the investigation uncovers any national security risks.
The Commerce Department has not yet provided a response to The Epoch Times’ inquiry regarding this matter.
The letter highlights that under China’s increasingly stringent data protectionist and national security-focused legal framework, companies like TP-Link are obligated to provide data to the Chinese government and comply with its national security apparatus. PRC is an acronym for the People’s Republic of China, which is governed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
TP-Link has not yet responded to The Epoch Times’ request for comment. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy expressed hope that authorities would possess sufficient evidence when attributing cyber-related incidents while dismissing these allegations as baseless.
This call for an investigation comes at a time when concerns over CCP cyber espionage are mounting. Krishnamoorthi and Moolenaar’s letter further emphasizes that TP-Link’s susceptibility to vulnerabilities combined with its compliance with PRC law is deeply unsettling. They also highlight how SOHO routers like TP-Link are commonly exploited by the Chinese government for extensive cyberattacks within the United States.
It remains to be seen how authorities will respond to these urgent requests from members of Congress regarding potential cybersecurity threats originating from China.