Nvidia reiterates lack of backdoors, kill switches in its chips

Published 06/08/2025, 05:04
Updated 06/08/2025, 13:36
© Reuters

Investing.com - Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA) has reiterated its messaging that its chips do not contain hidden backdoors or remote kill switches, while rejecting U.S. calls to include in-built remote controls in its products.

The company said in a blog post released on Tuesday that its graphical processing units “do not and should not have kill switches and backdoors.” 

"That’s not how trustworthy systems are built — and never will be," Nvidia wrote. 

Nvidia said that embedding backdoors and kill switches in its chips would be a “gift to hackers and hostile actors,” while also undermining global tech infrastructure and denting trust in U.S. technology. 

The company referenced recent proposals from U.S. lawmakers and pundits that the company begin installing backdoor access to prevent misuse of its chips. Lawmakers had also suggested that Nvidia and its peers include location verification tech with their chips to prevent them from being diverted to sanctioned countries. 

Calls for such a move had intensified when Washington placed strict restrictions on the export of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China earlier this year, during the height of the U.S.-China trade war. But no legislation was signed to enforce the alteration of Nvidia’s chips. 

A host of reports showed Chinese developers were still acquiring Nvidia’s chips despite U.S. sanctions, drawing ire from government officials. 

Nvidia has repeatedly dismissed calls for controls and location tracking, stating that such a move would undermine its products. The company was summoned by Chinese officials last week to express concerns over U.S. proposals for chip controls and location tracking. 

The company recently signaled that it will resume sales of its popular H20 chip in China, following a deescalation in a bitter U.S.-China trade war.

(Ambar Warrick contributed reporting.)

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.