Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has announced a lawsuit against Lorex, a major retailer of WiFi cameras for indoor and outdoor security including baby monitors, alleging the company maintains ties to Chinese defense firm Dahua Technology despite marketing its products as “private by design.”
Hanaway stated that Lorex’s firmware routes directly to Dahua, further evidencing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) involvement and control over device hardware and software. The lawsuit claims Lorex misled consumers and retailers about its ongoing connections to China even after selling the company to Taiwan-based Skywatch for $72 million in 2022.
In 2018, Lorex was acquired by Dahua Technology, the same year Dahua CEO Fu Liquan was reported as secretary of Dahua’s Communist Party Committee. The lawsuit notes that Dahua was used by the Chinese government for its surveillance program in 2019.
Hanaway said: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Missouri will not allow the CCP to put its hand on our cradles.” She added, “Parents place these cameras over cribs and in bedrooms to protect their children, not to invite a foreign adversary into their homes.”
The lawsuit alleges Lorex has continued using Dahua as an ongoing supplier of components despite the U.S. Department of Defense designating Dahua a national security threat in 2019. Hanaway also claims Lorex misrepresented its products by selling cameras on major retail websites including Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Menards, Micro Center, Office Depot, and Staples while omitting fundamental facts about its connections to China.
“Lorex tells families its video cameras are ‘private by design’ while concealing ties to a Chinese military company,” Hanaway said. “These cameras watch our babies breathe, capture our children’s voices, and record families’ most intimate moments. When companies won’t tell the truth about their connection to hostile foreign governments, my office will step in to protect families.”
Missouri is seeking restitution of up to $1,000 for each Missouri customer who purchased a Lorex camera in the last five years, as well as $1.8 million in damages from the company.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently filed a similar lawsuit against Lorex, alleging the same issues of concealed ties to Dahua and failure to disclose this information to consumers under Texas law.
Lorex has not responded to requests for comment.
