Texas Joins List of States Investigating Lorex Over China Allegations
Citing FCC restrictions on Dahua products, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Wednesday that he had opened an investigation into whether security camera maker Lorex Technology is selling products that use components sourced from the Chinese video equipment maker. Texans "should never have to worry that the devices protecting their homes could be tied to foreign adversaries," Paxton said.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Communications Daily is required reading for senior executives at top telecom corporations, law firms, lobbying organizations, associations and government agencies (including the FCC). Join them today!
While Lorex is owned by Taiwan-based Skywatch, there are concerns that it gets key components for its cameras from Dahua, Paxton said. The DOD designates Dahua as a Chinese military company, Paxton said, adding that its home security cameras are on the FCC's "covered list."
"Despite this, Lorex cameras remain available for purchase by Texas consumers through major retailers like Amazon and Costco," he said. The AG's office will look into whether Lorex is deceptively selling goods that pose privacy and national security risks while representing them as appropriate for residential use.
Lorex is "proud to support millions of homeowners and businesses in North America who trust us to provide reliable security solutions that safeguard their families and livelihoods. The trust that our customers place in us defines the Lorex brand," it said in an email. The company is "aware of" the Texas investigation and "fully intend[s] to contest the allegations made by the Attorney General, and we are confident that a fair hearing will determine that Lorex has taken the appropriate steps to safeguard customer privacy."
The Texas investigation follows Nebraska AG Mike Hilgers' (R) lawsuit against Lorex, filed in September (see 2509230050), and Florida AG James Uthmeier's (R) similar announcement in August that his office also was investigating the company.