China Investigates NVIDIA’s H20 Chips for Surveillance Risks

NVIDIA has been called in by Chinese regulators over claims that its H20 AI chip poses security risks, putting billions in potential sales at stake.

Beijing has hauled in NVIDIA over explosive claims that its H20 AI chips could secretly track users or be shut down remotely, which is a sharp blow just weeks after US export restrictions were eased.

As reported by The New York Times, China’s top internet watchdog summoned the US chipmaker to address what it calls “backdoor security” risks tied to the H20, a chip tailored for China’s AI sector. The inquiry throws immediate scrutiny on NVIDIA’s return to the Chinese market after the Trump administration reversed course on a previous sales ban.

What drew China’s suspicion

Though not the most powerful chip in NVIDIA’s portfolio, the H20 has been widely adopted by Chinese tech companies seeking to scale ...