After TikTok, the WiFi router in your home may be next Chinese tech ban target
The logo of TP-Link appears on the products of router manufacturer TP-Link in Fuyang, China, on December 19, 2024. (Photo by Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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While the TikTok ban has lawmakers scurrying and chatter about Chinese influence over U.S. tech at a fever pitch, another danger is lurking. One of Amazon’s top-selling router brands, TP-Link, has been under scrutiny by regulators as posing a threat to American infrastructure. Experts worry that China could exploit the routers to launch attacks on critical infrastructure or steal sensitive information.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce last summer, touching off a flurry of investigations and calls for a ban. The letter, which the Wall Street Journal first reported, flagged “unusual vulnerabilities” and required compliance with PRC law as disconcerting. “When combined with the PRC government’s everyday use of SOHO [small office/home office] routers like TP-Link to perpetrate extensive cyberattacks in the United States, it becomes significantly alarming,” the letter stated.
But so far, no action has been taken, and Krishnamoorthi is concerned.
“I am not aware of any plans to get them out,” Krishnamoorthi said. He pointed to the government’s “rip and replace” plan with Huawei network equipment as a precedent that could be followed. The government mandated in 2020 that companies rid themselves of Huawei equipment, which was deemed to pose a national security threat. Efforts to remove the equipment are still ongoing.
According to data he cited, TP-Link has a 65% share of the U.S. router market, and its success has followed a similar playbook used by China with other technology: make a lot more than they need, export the surplus to undercut the competition, and use the technology to backdoor access or to disrupt.
“I am wondering whether something similar needs to be done, at least in regards to national security agencies, Department of Defense, and Intelligence,” Krishnamoorthi said. “It just doesn’t make sense for the U.S government to be buying the routers.”
The routers were among brands in the market linked to hacks on European officials and the Typhoon Volt attacks.
An Amazon best seller inside our online histories
Krishnamoorthi’s concerns go beyond the federal government. State and local utilities that have them could be vulnerable, he said, as well as people who have the routers at home.
“The PRC has every intent to collect this data on Americans and they will, why give them another backdoor?” Krishnamoorthi said.
Browsing history, and family and employer information, are all at risk.
“I would not buy a TP-Link router, and I would not have that in my home,” he added, and noted that he never had TikTok on his phone.
Ranking member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) participates in the first hearing of the U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, in the Cannon House Office Building on February 28, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee is investigating economic, technological and security competition between the U.S. and China.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images News | Getty Images
There are multiple versions of TP-Link routers available on Amazon, with one labeled a “best seller” retailing for $71. Amazon did not respond to questions about whether it planned to pull the routers.
A spokesman for the majority of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, chaired by Moolenar, told CNBC the TP-Link routers pose an espionage risk to Americans because the company is beholden to the Chinese government, who are engaged in a full-scale hacking campaign against the United States and our people. “Because of this, we hope to see TP-link routers banned in the coming year, coupled with programs to replace existing Chinese routers with safe American alternatives.”
TP-Link Technologies has said in response to the accusations that it does not sell router products in the U.S. and denied its routers have any cybersecurity vulnerabilities. TP-Link Systems, which recently built a new headquarters for the U.S. market in Irvine, California, has had operations in the state since 2023, and says it is a separate company with separate ownership, and most of the routers made for the U.S. market come from Vietnam.
“TP-Link Systems is proactively seeking opportunities to engage with the federal government to demonstrate the effectiveness of our security practices and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the American market, American consumers and addressing U.S. national security risks,” the company told the Orange County Business Journal earlier this month.
The People’s Republic of China’s ministry in the United States did not respond to a request for comment.
The problem of unencrypted communication
A consensus on the best way to combat the problem, and enact a ban, remains elusive, given how widespread use of the routers already is within U.S consumer and business markets.
Guy Segal, vice president of corporate development at cybersecurity services company Sygnia, said in addition to TP-Link router prevalence in government institutions, including defense organizations, the company has the majority of the U.S. market in routers for homes and small businesses.
“The pervasiveness of this technology and the potential risks associated with it do present security concerns for users that should be taken seriously, whether at the consumer level or a national security consideration for government entities,” he said.
If a ban is to come, it is more likely going to be spurred by the national security concerns, and the implications the routers could have on military readiness and national security, than the risk to home internet consumers. Segal said if momentum for a ban picks up inside the government, the action would have to be implemented in phases, given the ubiquity of the TP-Link router. The most practical approach would be to start by banning use in the federal and defense sectors.
The letter from the Congressional group to Commerce last summer cited a PRC government that has demonstrated a willingness to sponsor hacking campaigns using PRC-affiliated SOHO routers, “particularly those offered by the world’s largest manufacturer, TP-Link — and consider using its ICTS authorities to properly mitigate this glaring national security issue.”
Matt Radolec, vice president of incident response and cloud operations at security company Varonis, says that the government is on the right track, and consumers should not ignore the issue even if the threat of a ban on home devices may not be imminent. “Banning routers from certain manufacturers is a sound security decision,” Radolec said. “Consumers, in general, should be aware of the implications to their personal privacy.”
The underlying problem with the TP-Link routers, he said, is unencrypted communication, and it is an issue where the public is underinformed.
“All unencrypted communications on these routers could be compromised, which is worrisome because intra-network communication is often unencrypted for performance’s sake. You’ll get faster internet speeds, but you could be risking your personal data,” Radolec said.
Even if banking information, for instance, is encrypted, that wouldn’t protect all the unprotected personal data that passes through an unprotected, vulnerable home router.
“It’s time for the general public to be aware of the differences between encrypted and unencrypted communications, and browser and device manufacturers must do a better job informing the public about the privacy risks when you send your data over unencrypted links,” Radolec said. “I think we need to ask ourselves, as consumers, is that something we want to be potentially exposed to?”
Two humanoid robots are on display at the China Mobile booth at the Mobile World Conference in Shanghai on June 19, 2025.
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Humanoid robots, which have made significant technological advances this year, may be at the precipice of a ChatGPT-like spike in investment and popularity — or at least, that’s what many in the industry believe.
So-called humanoid robots are artificial intelligence-powered machines designed to resemble humans in appearance and movement, with expected use cases across the industrial and service sectors.
Makers of these robots have been working on the technology in the background for years. Now, they say they’re ready to unleash the technology into the world.
“There is a consensus in our industry that the ChatGPT moment for humanoid robots has arrived,” Xiong Youjun, general manager at the Beijing Innovation Center for Humanoid Robotics, said during a panel in Singapore on Thursday, alongside other professionals from China’s robotics industry.
“This year has been defined as the first year of mass production of humanoid robots,” Xiong, chief technology officer and executive director of robotics firm UBTech, said in Mandarin translated by CNBC. He added that there had been rapid progress in both the mechanical bodies and the AI-powered “brains.”
The original “ChatGPT moment” occurred in late 2022, when OpenAI released its groundbreaking generative AI chatbot to the public, leading to mass adoption of large language models and widespread recognition of their potential.
Tesla’s Optimus robot gestures at an unveiling event in Los Angeles, Oct. 10, 2024.
Tesla | Via Reuters
Robotics players hoping to recreate that impact include Tesla’s Optimus. Meanwhile, a growing number of humanoid robot start-ups are emerging in China, with companies like Unitree, Galbot, Agibot and UBtech Robotics bringing products to market.
While humanoid robots are yet to reach a fraction of the adoption seen with generative AI, many experts do expect the technology to have a transformative impact on the global economy in a matter of years.
Meanwhile, robots have begun to appear everywhere, from factories to technology conferences and sporting events.
Humanoids pick up steam
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said he expects the company to produce 5,000 of its Optimus robots this year, with the technology expected to eventually make up the majority of the EV maker’s business.
Meanwhile, humanoid robot firms in China say their products are already being used in factories and for commercial services.
Speaking on Thursday, Zhao Yuli, chief strategy officer at Galbot, said the start-up had already deployed almost 1,000 robots across different businesses.
Other companies, such as UBTech Robotics and Galbot, have also installed robots in local factories, according to local media reports.
According to Zhao, these deployments have come alongside a surge of investor interest and government support in the sector, as well as the maturation of both robotics and generative AI technology.
Industry experts noted that this maturation in technology has been on display at a number of conferences and events this year, such as China’s World Humanoid Robotics Game, which sees robots compete in practical scenarios.
Galbot won a gold medal in the Robot Skills event after placing first in a pharmaceutical sorting challenge.
Improvements in Chinese humanoid robots’ motion control have also been on display in recent months at sporting events such as marathons and boxing matches.
Guo Yandong, founder and CEO of AI² Robotics, added that improvements in generative AI have also enabled robots to learn on the job rather than rely solely on preset commands, a shift that could expand the uses of humanoids across sectors.
Not so fast
Despite the hype from humanoid robotics companies, however, many experts resist the idea that mass public adoption will occur anytime soon.
“Humanoids won’t arrive all at once in a ChatGPT moment, but slowly enter more and more positions as their capabilities increase,” said Reyk Knuhtsen, analyst at SemiAnalysis, an independent research and analysis company specializing in semiconductors and AI. He added that their first uses will be in low-stakes, failure-tolerant tasks.
That’s not to mention long manufacturing timelines and high costs, which will also slow adoption compared to generative AI, he added.
UBTech humanoid robot is on display during the 27th China Beijing International High-tech Expo at China National Convention Center on May 8, 2025 in Beijing, China.
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Even UBTech’s Xiong conceded that some hurdles remain for the sector, such as ethical considerations, laws and regulations that need to be addressed.
Still, analyst Knuhtsen expects investment in the space to continue as long as the autonomy of the robots continues to improve.
“The market opportunity for humanoids is enormous, contingent on how well the AI performs … If the technology works, it has the chance to transform many labor processes around the world,” he said.
Merrill Lynch analysts recently estimated in a research note that global humanoid robot shipments will reach 18,000 units in 2025 from 2,500 units last year. It also predicts a global robot “population” of 3 billion by 2060.
Xpeng CEO He Xiaopeng speaks to reporters at the electric carmaker’s stand at the IAA auto show in Munich, Germany on September 8, 2025.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
Germany this week played host to one of the world’s biggest auto shows — but in the heartland of Europe’s auto industry, it was buzzy Chinese electric car companies looking to outshine some of the region’s biggest brands on their home turf.
The IAA Mobility conference in Munich was packed full of companies with huge stands showing off their latest cars and technology. Among some of the biggest displays were those from Chinese electric car companies, underscoring their ambitions to expand beyond China.
Europe has become a focal point for the Asian firms. It’s a market where the traditional automakers are seen to be lagging in the development of electric vehicles, even as they ramp up releases of new cars. At the same time, Tesla, which was for so long seen as the electric vehicle market leader, has seen sales decline in the region.
Despite Chinese EV makers facing tariffs from the European Union, players from the world’s second-largest economy have responded to the ramping up of competition by setting aggressive sales and expansion targets.
“The current growth of Xpeng globally is faster than we have expected,” He Xiaopeng, the CEO of Xpeng told CNBC in an interview this week.
Aggressive expansion plans
Chinese carmakers who spoke to CNBC at the IAA show signaled their ambitious expansion plans.
Xpeng’s He said in an interview that the company is looking to launch its mass-market Mona series in Europe next year. In China, Xpeng’s Mona cars start at the equivalent of just under $17,000. Bringing this to Europe would add some serious price competition.
Meanwhile, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC) is targeting rapid growth of its sales in Europe. Wei Haigang, president of GAC International, told CNBC that the company aims to sell around 3,000 cars in Europe this year and at least 50,000 units by 2027. GAC also announced plans to bring two EVs — the Aion V and Aion UT — to Europe. Leapmotor was also in attendance with their own stand.
There are signs that Chinese players have made early in roads into Europe. The market share of Chinese car brands in Europe nearly doubled in the first half of the year versus the same period in 2024, though it still remains low at just over 5%, according to Jato Dynamics.
“The significant presence of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) makers at the IAA Mobility, signals their growing ambitions and confidence in the European market,” Murtuza Ali, senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC.
Tech and gadgets in focus
Many of the Chinese car firms have positioned themselves as technology companies, much like Tesla, and their cars highlight that.
Many of the electric vehicles have big screens equipped with flashy interfaces and voice assistants. And in a bid to lure buyers, some companies have included additional gadgets.
For example, GAC’s Aion V sported a refrigerator as well as a massage function as part of the seating.
The Aion V is one of the cars GAC is launching in Europe as it looks to expand its presence in the region. The Aion V is on display at the company’s stand at the IAA Mobility auto show in Munich, Germany on September 9, 2025.
Arjun Kharpal | CNBC
This is one way that the Chinese players sought to differentiate themselves from legacy brands.
“The chances of success for Chinese automakers are strong, especially as they have an edge in terms of affordability, battery technology, and production scale,” Counterpoint’s Ali said.
Europe’s carmakers push back
Legacy carmakers sought to flex their own muscles at the IAA with Volskwagen, BMW and Mercedes having among the biggest stands at the show. Mercedes in particular had advertising displayed all across the front entrance of the event.
BMW, like the Chinese players, had a big focus on technology by talking up its so-called “superbrain architecture,” which replaces hardware with a centralized computer system. BMW, which introduced the iX3 at the event, and chipmaker Qualcomm also announced assisted driving software that the two companies co-developed.
Volkswagen and French auto firm Renault also showed off some new electric cars.
Regardless of the product blitz, there are still concerns that European companies are not moving fast enough. BMW’s new iX3 is based on the electric vehicle platform it first debuted two years ago. Meanwhile, Chinese EV makers have been quick in bringing out and launching newer models.
“A commitment to legacy structures and incrementalism has slowed its ability to build and leverage a robust EV ecosystem, leaving it behind fast moving rivals,” Tammy Madsen, professor of management at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, said of BMW.
While European autos have a strong brand history and their CEOs acknowledged and welcomed the competition this week in interviews with CNBC, the Chinese are not letting up.
“Europe’s automakers still hold significant brand value and legacy. The challenge for them lies in achieving production at scale and adopting new technologies faster,” Counterpoint’s Ali said.
“The Chinese surely are not waiting for anyone to catch-up and are making significant gains.”
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