Chinese state-linked media has warned that Nvidia’s H20 artificial intelligence chips pose security risks for China, claiming they may contain a hardware “backdoor” enabling remote shutdown.
The comments came from Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV, in a WeChat post on Sunday. The article also labeled the H20 chips “neither environmentally friendly, nor technologically advanced, nor safe,” urging consumers to avoid purchasing them.
The H20 chips were developed specifically for the Chinese market after the U.S. restricted exports of advanced AI chips in late 2023. Although the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump initially banned sales of the H20 in April, the decision was reversed in July.
On July 31, China’s Cyberspace Administration summoned Nvidia to address potential “backdoor” security concerns. Nvidia has repeatedly denied the allegations, stating its chips have no hidden access points or remote control capabilities. The company reiterated this position on Sunday in response to the Yuyuan Tantian report.
The latest criticism follows similar concerns voiced earlier this month by People’s Daily, China’s flagship state newspaper, which urged Nvidia to provide “convincing security proofs” to restore market trust.
