Nvidia CEO called in by lawmakers over ties to alleged Chinese spy
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Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, gives a keynote address at the Berlin GPU Technology Conference on Oct. 21. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been asked by three House Republican committee chairs to brief Congress behind closed doors about his reported ties to a woman accused of spying for China.
Why it matters: The request escalates the scrutiny of the Nvidia CEO over his alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a businesswoman accused of spying for China.
Catch up quick: Jensen Huang and Alice Huang purportedly had a "close" relationship, per reporting from the New York Times.
- The Times also reported that President Trump was briefed by intelligence officials about their relationship and the allegations that Alice Huang was a spy, but he chose not to act.
- The Wall Street Journal subsequently reported that officials in at least three countries had concerns that Alice Huang was passing information to the Chinese government, potentially including sensitive details on Nvidia chips.
- Nvidia has denied the allegations, saying Jensen Huang and Alice Huang's contacts were just routine business interactions. The Chinese government previously called the allegations that it was spying on Nvidia "groundless speculation."
Zoom out: Reps. Brian J. Mast (R-Fla.), John Moolenaar (R-Mich.) and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) sent a letter to Jensen Huang on Thursday, asking him to sit for a joint briefing with the respective House committees they chair: Foreign Affairs, the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, and the Select Committee on Intelligence.
- They are seeking answers on Nvidia's protocols to protect itself from foreign adversaries and his interactions with Alice Huang, the letter says.
- "Recent reports raise significant national security concerns regarding the [People's Republic of China's] access to sensitive U.S. technology and information," the letter reads.
- "The issue of PRC infiltration and access to cutting-edge U.S. technology is core to the investigative work of our three committees this Congress. It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which U.S. national security has been placed at risk," the letter continues.
The other side: "Meetings with customers are part of a CEO's job; Jensen talks with thousands of customer executives every year," Nvidia said in a statement.
- "Our regional cloud customers receive ordinary business information — not sensitive NVIDIA trade secrets — and zero information relevant to national security," the company said.
- "We're confident that if the U.S. government believes that any person is a threat to American industry, it would let us know," it added.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from Nvidia.
