The Florida government began an investigation against the Lorex security camera manufacturer, suspected of calls with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and possible failures to protect consumer privacy, according to information published by the newspaper National Review.
State Attorney General James Uthmeier determined the delivery of documents that reveal the company’s corporate structure, production contracts and eventual safety breaches to equipment. Records on software updates, cloud use, access to the source and information provided to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) were also requested.
The concern of the local government is Lorex’s relationship with Chinese giant Dahua Technology, who bought the company in 2018 and passed it into 2023 after international complaints involving human rights violations against Uigures in Xinjiang. Currently, the brand belongs to Skywatch International, based in Taiwan.
In a statement, Uthmeier stated that “Florida families deserve clarity about those who manipulate their data and who controls the operation of these devices,” and added that the state “will not accept attempts by the CCP to use domestic technology as a spy tool.”
According to the National ReviewSecurity experts warn that Lorex may be selling Dahua equipment with another visual identity, which would open cybersecurity breaches in US homes.
The case adds to the broader debate in the United States about the influence of Chinese technology companies. Tiktok, for example, faces similar questions in Congress and has already been the target of a law that provides for the sale of the platform or its withdrawal from the country.
