China claims Nvidia built backdoor into H20 chip designed for Chinese market

Beijing has summoned Nvidia over alleged security issues with its chips, in a blow to the US company’s push to revive sales in the country after Washington granted approval for the export of a made-for-China chip.

China’s cyber regulator on Thursday said it had held a meeting with Nvidia over what it called “serious security issues” with the company’s artificial intelligence chips. It said US AI experts had “revealed that Nvidia’s computing chips have location tracking and can remotely shut down the technology.”

The Cyberspace Administration of China requested that Nvidia explain the security problems associated with the H20 chip, which was designed for the Chinese market to comply with US export restrictions, and submit documentation to support their case. The announcement comes as Nvidia is rebuilding its China business after Washington this month lifted a ban on H20 sales to the country.

After Washington’s U-turn, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang visited Beijing to meet officials and customers. He stressed his company’s commitment to the Chinese market and introduced a new graphics processing unit based on the latest Blackwell series that is tailored to align with existing US export controls.

Paul Triolo, a China tech expert and partner at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, said he was “skeptical” about the claims of a deliberate back door being built into Nvidia hardware, pointing to the lack of detail in the announcement.