Controversies

Legal action against open-source appliance projects

Haier sent cease-and-desist letters to hOn and pyhOn, open-source projects that enabled Home Assistant users to control appliances without using Haier's third-party cloud service. The dispute highlighted tensions over interoperability, local control, and proprietary cloud platforms.

Criticism of continued Russian expansion

Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of international sanctions, Haier faced criticism for maintaining and expanding manufacturing and development activities in Russia.

Haier Smart Home denies having a layoff plan

Company response

In response to layoff rumors, a Haier Smart Home representative said the company had no layoff plan and described its workforce-wide entrepreneurial system as a way to encourage employee initiative.

Allegations of malware on mobile devices

German media accused Haier of supplying smartphones and tablets with malware pre-installed. The allegation concerned device software and raised questions about product security and consumer privacy.