Nvidia is pushing back hard against Chinese claims that its AI data center GPUs have a “kill switch.” The accusation came last week from China’s Cyberspace Administration, which demanded documents on alleged security problems in Nvidia’s H20 AI chip meant for China.
Nvidia’s Chief Security Officer David Reber fired back Tuesday, flatly denying any kill switches or backdoors in the GPUs.
Reber wrote in a blog post: 
“NVIDIA GPUs do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors.”
He added that any secret backdoor would be a massive security risk open to hackers, not just governments. A kill switch “is like buying a car where the dealership keeps a remote control for the parking brake — just in case they decide you shouldn’t be driving.”
The move comes amid heavy U.S.-China tension over AI chip sales. The H20 chip saw an export ban to China in April, cutting Nvidia’s revenue by roughly $8 billion this quarter. The Biden administration has since granted a waiver to resume sales.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has insisted it’s better for the U.S. if Nvidia chips become global AI standards — including in China.
This fight only adds fuel to the ongoing debate over chip export controls and the demand for built-in location tracking in AI hardware. Nvidia declined to comment beyond the blog post.
The company’s stance is clear: no backdoors, no kill switches, and no spyware—just plain hardware security.
