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Beijing has summoned Nvidia over alleged backdoors in its high-performance computing chips, sparking concerns about the role of cybersecurity in China's tech sector. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, security, and technology policy.
The Chinese Cyberspace Administration (CAC) has summoned Nvidia over alleged backdoors in its H20 AI chips. The CAC's warning comes as China sharpens its scrutiny of foreign silicon and asserts control over its domestic tech landscape. Beijing is skeptical about Nvidia's commitment to cybersecurity, citing concerns about "tracking and positioning" and "remote shutdown" technologies. Nvidia has denied having backdoors in its chips, emphasizing its commitment to cybersecurity. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade, security, and technology policy.
In a recent development that has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, China's Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) has summoned Nvidia, the American chip giant, to discuss alleged backdoors in its high-performance computing chips. The CAC's warning comes as Beijing sharpens its scrutiny of foreign silicon slipping past the firewall, a move that is part of the country's ongoing efforts to assert control over its domestic tech landscape.
The controversy revolves around Nvidia's H20 AI chips, which were recently given the thumbs-up to resume sales in China after the Trump administration quietly reversed an earlier export ban on the silicon. The ban had been imposed in April 2023, citing concerns that the kit could wind up powering Chinese military systems. However, despite the reversal, Beijing has once again expressed its skepticism about Nvidia's commitment to cybersecurity, sparking a heated debate about the role of backdoors in AI chips.
According to sources close to the matter, the CAC has identified several features in Nvidia's H20 chips that it deems suspicious, including mature "tracking and positioning" and "remote shutdown" technologies. These capabilities are allegedly designed to enable remote access and control over the chips, sparking fears among Chinese officials that Beijing could be vulnerable to surveillance or sabotage.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the CAC claimed there were "serious security vulnerabilities" in Nvidia's high-performance computing chips, which are widely used for AI workloads. The agency demanded that Nvidia explain the security risks associated with these features and provide relevant supporting materials.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has responded to the criticism by emphasizing the company's commitment to cybersecurity and assuring customers that its chips do not contain "backdoors" that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them. However, the situation remains highly contentious, with many industry observers warning that the dispute could have far-reaching implications for China's tech sector.
The controversy also highlights the ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing over issues related to trade, security, and technology policy. As part of its efforts to assert control over its domestic tech landscape, China has been increasingly scrutinizing foreign companies, including those from the United States, which have significant market presence in the country.
The Chip Security Act, recently introduced by lawmakers in Washington, calls for mandatory GPS-style tracking to be embedded in every AI chip exported from the United States. While the bill is still in its early stages, it has sparked concerns among American companies that could be affected by the new regulations, including Nvidia.
As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how this controversy will play out and what implications it may have for China's tech sector. One thing is clear, however: the issue of backdoors in AI chips is set to remain a contentious topic in the months and years ahead.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Great-Chip-Debate-Beijings-Scrutiny-of-Nvidias-AI-Chips-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/07/31/beijing_nvidia_backdoors/
Published: Thu Jul 31 14:00:26 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
