Nvidia’s security chief has rejected proposals for GPU kill switches and backdoors, warning they would create dangerous vulnerabilities, as U.S. lawmakers push for hardware controls and Chinese officials investigate alleged loopholes in the company’s chips. (Source: Image by RR)

Firm’s Blog Post Signals Resistance to Government-Mandated Controls

Nvidia’s chief security officer, David Reber Jr., has firmly rejected the idea of adding “kill switches” or backdoors to its GPUs, responding to mounting political pressure from both the U.S. and China. In a blog post, Reber stated that such features would pose “dangerous vulnerabilities” rather than enhance security. His remarks come amid U.S. legislative efforts, including the bipartisan Chip Security Act, which proposes adding tracking technology to AI chips and leaves room for further measures such as remote disablement.

The post appears aimed primarily at U.S. lawmakers, while also addressing Chinese suspicions that Nvidia’s hardware already contains such vulnerabilities. In China, regulators have launched probes into alleged “loopholes” in Nvidia’s H20 chips. Reber, according to an article in theverge.com, directly countered these claims, warning that any secret access points could lead to security disasters and undermine both America’s economic competitiveness and national security.

The debate arises as Nvidia navigates a delicate position in global AI hardware markets. While the company is expected to regain some export permits to China, its most advanced chips remain subject to strict U.S. controls. Washington wants Nvidia to remain the leading AI chip supplier to China, but overt U.S. access could push Chinese customers toward domestic alternatives.

Chinese companies, including Huawei, are making rapid gains in AI chip design and production. Should suspicions about U.S. backdoor access persist, Nvidia risks losing market share to these rivals—much as Huawei’s global phone business was crippled by allegations of government spying. Nvidia’s public stand against kill switches signals both a defense of its market position and a challenge to the growing push for government-mandated hardware controls.

read more in theverge.com