Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers has filed a lawsuit against Lorex, a home security camera manufacturer, accusing the company of misleading consumers about the privacy and safety of its devices. The 39-page lawsuit, filed in Nebraska state court, claims that Lorex marketed its cameras as ‘private by design’ and safe for use in spaces like children’s bedrooms while concealing that they rely on technology from Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., a Chinese firm sanctioned by the U.S. over national security and human rights issues.
Lorex’s cameras, sold at major retailers like Costco and Best Buy, are being scrutinized for their potential role in data collection and surveillance. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s products closely mirror models from Dahua, a Chinese surveillance firm with ties to Beijing’s intelligence apparatus. Hilgers emphasized that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) poses a direct threat to American security, including through market actors that could exploit technology for surveillance purposes.
Michael Lucci, CEO of State Armor, has been a vocal critic of Lorex’s practices, urging states to take action against companies that hide their reliance on CCP-controlled entities. Lucci stated that Lorex’s cameras, marketed as ‘private by design,’ are actually compromised by Beijing’s data access, which he called a direct threat to individual privacy and national security. This case has drawn attention to broader concerns about the integration of Chinese technology in American consumer products and the potential risks to data privacy and national security.
Lawmakers from both parties have long raised concerns that the Chinese government exploits educational exchanges, research partnerships, and business investments in the U.S. as cover for espionage activities. These warnings have intensified in recent years amid growing scrutiny of Beijing’s influence operations on U.S. soil. The lawsuit against Lorex is part of a larger push to address the potential risks posed by Chinese technology in American markets and to ensure consumer privacy and national security are protected.