China questions Nvidia over security risks in H20 AI chips sold to the Chinese market, raising concerns amid the ongoing US-China tech rivalry.

Chinese authorities summoned US tech giant Nvidia on Thursday over serious security concerns related to its H20 artificial intelligence (AI) chips, as tensions escalate in the ongoing technological standoff between Beijing and Washington.

The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the country’s top internet regulator, announced it had engaged Nvidia in discussions following the discovery of potential vulnerabilities and backdoors in its H20 chips, a version specifically developed for the Chinese market.

The CAC issued a public statement on social media confirming that Nvidia was asked to explain the security risks tied to the H20 chips and to submit relevant technical documentation for review.

The chips, designed with downgraded capabilities to comply with US export restrictions, have now become a flashpoint in the broader debate over Nvidia H20 chip security. “The company has been asked to explain the security risks of vulnerabilities and backdoors in its H20 chips sold to China and submit relevant supporting materials,” the statement read.

Chinese regulators cited reports from US experts, noting that location tracking and remote shutdown technologies for Nvidia’s AI chips “are already matured.”