by Jay Waagmeester, Florida Phoenix
August 29, 2025

Attorney General James Uthmeier is subpoenaing a in-home camera company, questioning its ties to the Chinese government.  

The subpoena is part of a “consumer protection investigation into possible foreign spying risks,” according to a news release.

The attorney general’s office is looking into Lorex, a Canadian company that sells home security cameras, often used to monitor a crib, dog, babysitter, or doorbell.

The investigation questions whether Lorex misled consumers about privacy and security of the company’s apps and cameras. 

“Florida families deserve straight answers about who touches their data and who controls the code in the devices they put in their homes,” Uthmeier said. “The Chinese Communist Party cannot be allowed to spy on American children. Florida will not tolerate it, and we will hold bad actors accountable.”

The attorney general wants to learn more about Lorex’s relationship with Dahua Technology, a video surveillance company headquartered in China. 

“What consumers do not know is that data might be shared with the Chinese military. Imagine that, footage of your baby in a crib going to the Chinese government. This is unacceptable, it’s a national security issue and it will not be tolerated in this state,” Uthmeier said in a video uploaded to his social media accounts. 

Specifically, Uthmeier said he is asking for documents related to the corporate structure and ownership of Lorex and how it contracts with third parties involved in its manufacturing and software. 

The subpoena demands the company answers questions related to marketing claims, Federal Communications Commission filings, and contracts with Florida retailers selling Lorex products. 

The attorney general encourages people who believe they were misled by Lorex to reach out to his office. 

Dahua sold Lorex in 2023 after the parent landed on a U.S. sanctions list over alleged ties to human-rights abuses. A number of large retailers stopped selling the brand, but Rep. Christopher Smith of New Jeresey and Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon wrote to Costco demanding to know why it had not, according to a TechCrunch report that year. Lorex products remained for sale on Costco’s website on Friday.

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Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Right

This content reflects a Center-Right perspective by emphasizing national security concerns related to foreign surveillance, particularly focusing on alleged ties to the Chinese government. The framing aligns with a viewpoint that prioritizes strong governmental oversight and consumer protection against perceived foreign threats, which is commonly associated with Center-Right political stances. The language used is firm on accountability and protecting American families, without veering into extreme rhetoric or partisan attacks.