By Tom Joyce
The Center Square

Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit Tuesday against home security camera company Lorex.

He says the company misled consumers about the safety of its products.

Hilgers said Lorex marketed its products as “private by design” while concealing its ties to Dahua, a Chinese company sanctioned by the United States for national security risks and human rights abuses.

“The Chinese Communist Party poses a direct threat to American security,” Hilgers said. “Lorex offers surveillance products and markets them for use in highly private areas, including children’s bedrooms. But this marketing is deceptive.”

At a news conference on Tuesday, Hilgers said Lorex’s split from Dahua “was in name only,” noting that “the firmware of these particular products are still made by Dahua. They’re still connected to Dahua.”

Hilgers said the company’s claims that its products protect consumer privacy are “misleading and not ultimately true.”

The lawsuit argues that Lorex’s advertising violates the Nebraska Consumer Protection Act and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Hilgers said consumers deserve honesty from companies that sell products meant to watch over their families.

“Just either be honest or don’t sell,” Hilgers said. “So, if you don’t want to be honest with consumers, and you’re going to sell products that pose significant security and privacy risk to their family, then yeah, you should stop selling.”

Hilgers also suggested that Nebraskans who own Lorex cameras should unplug them if possible.

“I would take it offline and maybe do research as to whether or not there’s any patches or fixes that could be applied,” he said.

Michael Lucci, CEO of State Armor, praised Hilgers for taking action.

“Lorex products shouldn’t just say ‘Made in China’, they should say ‘Watching from China,’” Lucci said.

Lucci added that the company is “lying to American families” and that “other state attorneys general must join with General Hilgers.”

Lorex cameras are sold by major retailers, including Kohl’s, Home Depot, Amazon and Nebraska Furniture Mart, meaning the devices are widely available to American households despite the security concerns raised by Hilgers.

Lucci also said retailers should “immediately pull Lorex products along with dozens of other products that are little more than re-labeled CCP spyware.”

The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief, restitution and penalties to be applied under Nebraska law.