A bipartisan group of 23 U.S. lawmakers, led by Sen. Joni Ernst and Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Ashley Hinson, has urged Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to investigate networking devices made by TP-Link Technologies. They warn that TP-Link products, particularly security cameras sold through military exchanges like the Army and Air Force Exchange and Navy Exchange, could be exploited by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for surveillance on U.S. military personnel and installations. The lawmakers emphasize that TP-Link’s ties to China and Chinese intelligence laws compel companies to share data with the government, posing a significant security threat.

The letter highlights concerns that these devices, widely available on U.S. military bases domestically and abroad, could enable the CCP to monitor, blackmail, or extort American citizens, including high-ranking officials. Lawmakers stress the urgent need for an investigation to prevent potential espionage and protect the privacy and security of U.S. service members and their families, given the lack of current safeguards against foreign surveillance through internet-connected devices.