Nvidia denies back-door features in its H20 chips after Beijing raises security concerns
Nvidia faces challenges in trying to please both Washington and Beijing amid intensifying US-China tech rivalry in AI
Nvidia said its chips had no “back doors” after China’s cyberspace regulator interviewed company representatives over alleged security risks associated with its H20 chips, which were tailor-made for Chinese customers, although it remains unclear what impact Beijing’s mistrust of the US firm will have over time.
“Cybersecurity is critically important to us,” an Nvidia representative said in an email to the South China Morning Post on Thursday night. “Nvidia does not have ‘back doors’ in our chips that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them.”
The statement was in response to a regulatory move by the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the agency responsible for the country’s cybersecurity.
The Chinese regulator said on Thursday that it had summoned and interviewed Nvidia regarding the potential tracking and remote control functions of its H20 chips, a surprise move as Nvidia had just received the green light from Washington to export the chips to clients in China.
Nvidia’s shares were down 0.8 per cent on Thursday in New York.
The latest development highlights the challenges faced by Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company in terms of market capitalisation, in trying to please both Washington and Beijing amid intensifying US-China rivalry in artificial intelligence and hi-tech.