A home security and baby monitor company, Lorex, is reportedly linked to the Chinese government.
Missouri Attorney General Katherine Hanaway stated in a Monday press release that this communist influence has been “meddling in our cradle” for a while now.
She has filed a lawsuit against Lorex, a prominent seller of WiFi cameras, including indoor and outdoor security options and baby monitors. The company also markets light bulb fixtures with attached cameras.
In 2018, Lorex was purchased by Dahua Technology, and it was noted that Dahua’s CEO, Fu Liquan, who took the position that same year, was previously the secretary of the Communist Party committee in Dahua city. By 2019, Dahua was reportedly involved in a surveillance program for the Chinese government.
Later, Dahua sold Lorex to Taiwan’s Skywatch Inc. for $72 million in 2022, but Hanaway argues that connections to China persist, and that Lorex misled retailers about these ongoing ties.
“The hand that rocks our cradle rules the world. Missouri will not allow the Chinese Communist Party to interfere with our families,” declared Hanaway. She emphasized that parents use these cameras to safeguard their children and keep foreign threats out of their homes.
Moreover, Hanaway pointed out that Lorex has continued to work with Dahua as a parts supplier, despite Dahua being designated as a national security threat by the Department of Defense in the past.
She also mentioned that Lorex’s firmware is directed back to Dahua, which “further demonstrates the Chinese Communist Party’s involvement and control over the device’s hardware and software.”
Lorex cameras are available not just on its website but also through retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Menards, Microcenters, Office Depot, and Staples. The lawsuit claims that Lorex misrepresented its connections and failed to inform consumers and retailers about these facts.
“Lorex has told families that the video camera is ‘by design private,’ hiding its association with a Chinese military firm,” Hanaway added. “These cameras observe babies as they breathe, capture their voices, and document the most personal moments of families. When companies fail to disclose their connections with hostile foreign governments, we take action to protect families.”
The state of Missouri is pursuing the case under the Missouri Commodity Exchange Act, seeking damages of up to $1,000 for each customer who purchased a Lorex camera in the past five years, totaling approximately $1.8 million.
In a related matter, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Lorex in February with similar claims, alleging undisclosed links to Dahua and the usage of its parts, citing violations of the Texas False Trade Practices Act.
As of now, Lorex has not responded to requests for comment or provided a public statement regarding the lawsuit in Missouri.
