The report of a criminal antitrust investigation follows a report in December that US authorities were investigating whether to ban TP-Link wireless routers, which were targeted in high-profile attacks linked to the Chinese government.
TP-Link was founded in China in 1996 but said it relocated its headquarters to the US in October 2024.TP-Link was split into two entities, one based in the US and one based in China, Bloomberg wrote, but the "US-based entity being scrutinized by Justice and Commerce Department officials still has substantial operations in mainland China." Another Bloomberg article earlier this month described how TP-Link still has a sizable presence in China.The Bloomberg report said the criminal antitrust investigation is in addition to "a parallel civil investigation into the company's pricing practices" that was revealed in earlier reporting.
Civil complaints have a lower burden of proof, while criminal probes can result in prison time for individuals and companies being fined as much as $100 million, Bloomberg wrote, noting that such "probes can take years to complete and may not result in charges."In a statement provided to Ars, TP-Link said it "has not received any inquiry from the Department of Justice regarding these matters" but "stands ready to cooperate fully with any government inquiries.""We have earned the trust of our customers through years of significant growth and consistent high rankings by third parties," TP-Link said.
"Unlike competitors, TP-Link owns its manufacturing and R&D operations, enabling cost savings and enhanced control over the security of our vertically integrated supply chain.
We do not sell products below cost and maintain a policy of transparency in our business practices, ensuring fair pricing for our valued customers."