US Congress summons Nvidia boss over ‘spy interactions’
Nick Lester |
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang has been summoned to appear before the United States Congress amid “significant national security concerns” over claims he had an affair with a Chinese spy.
A confidential briefing is being sought on Capitol Hill from the chief executive on the tech giant’s security protocols “against foreign adversary espionage”.
The company launched an investigation after reports Huang had a relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who allegedly passed information to Beijing.
Nvidia’s shares plunged 8 per cent as Wall Street opened, wiping hundreds of billions of dollars off its value, before recovering slightly.
Huang, who founded the company in 1993, told staff in an open letter he had been unfaithful to his wife with a business executive and apologised, but did not give further details.
He said: “I support the investigation and will co-operate fully. I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security.”
The FBI is also investigating the affair.
The New York Times reported last month that Huang – who has mingled with royalty and is a regular visitor to the White House – had an intimate relationship with an unrelated business executive called Alice Huang, who US intelligence had determined to be a Chinese spy.
She ran Singapore-based Megaspeed International, which has previously been suspected of illicitly shipping restricted Nvidia chips to China in breach of US export controls.
Beijing has denied the espionage claims.
A ministry of foreign affairs spokesman said: “The so-called Chinese spy allegation is unsubstantiated. It is nothing but smears against China.”
In the wake of the allegations, the chairmen of three House of Representatives committees on foreign affairs, intelligence and the Chinese Communist Party wrote to Huang asking him to appear before a joint behind-closed-doors session.
They wrote: “Recent reports raise significant national security concerns regarding the PRC’s access to sensitive US technology and information.
“The issue of PRC infiltration and access to cutting-edge US technology is core to the investigative work of our three committees this Congress.
“It is vital that Congress determines the extent to which US national security has been placed at risk.”
Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday, US President Donald Trump said Huang should not be concerned about the FBI probe.
“I did speak to him today just to see if he’s feeling all right,” Trump said.
“He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy.”
The investigation will again put the spotlight on espionage activities by China in the West and is raising questions about the future of Nvidia, which is one of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies, alongside Apple and Microsoft.
Huang and Nvidia play a critical role in the AI industry as many of the world’s leading developers rely on the company’s specialised computer chips to power their systems.
The firm’s chip sales to China have at times been targeted by US regulators seeking to limit Beijing’s access to such technology.
Huang has helped persuade Trump to take a lighter touch on regulating AI, arguing existing laws could cover any security issues stemming from the technology and that individual companies should behave responsibly with the products they develop and release.
With Reuters
PA