China state media raises security, environmental concerns over Nvidia H20 chips

Chinese state-affiliated media have questioned the safety, performance, and environmental impact of Nvidia’s H20 artificial intelligence chips, signaling fresh scrutiny over the U.S. chipmaker’s products in one of its key markets.

In a WeChat post published Sunday, Yuyuan Tantian — an account linked to state broadcaster CCTV — claimed the chips posed “backdoor” security risks and fell short in terms of technological advancement and eco-friendliness.

“When a type of chip is neither environmentally friendly, nor advanced, nor safe, as consumers, we certainly have the option not to buy it,” the post said.

Nvidia has yet to issue a response, according to Reuters. The company previously denied any “backdoors” in its products, saying they did not allow remote access or control.

The H20 chips were designed for China following the United States’ 2023 export restrictions on advanced AI chips. The administration of then-President Donald Trump banned their sale in April this year amid intensifying trade tensions, only to reverse the measure in July.

China’s Cyberspace Administration said it summoned Nvidia to a meeting on 31 July to seek clarification on whether the H20 chips contained hidden methods for bypassing authentication or security protocols — a potential vulnerability known as a hardware backdoor. Yuyuan Tantian alleged the chips could enable functions such as “remote shutdown” through such mechanisms.