U.S. chipmaker NVIDIA’s board is investigating reports that former CEO Jensen Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence as lawmakers seek scrutiny of possible export-control violations involving advanced chips.
On Nov. 12, two House intelligence subcommittee leaders, Darin LaHood and Josh Gottheimer, asked federal agencies to examine potential espionage, export-control or sanctions violations tied to a publicly reported relationship. Their letter raised concerns about access to restricted high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) and possible military artificial intelligence and cyber uses. It did not report that a violation had occurred.
NVIDIA’s board opened an independent investigation on Nov. 8 into reports that a foreign intelligence effort targeted Huang. On Nov. 10, the directors said former acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz would conduct the inquiry. The board reported no grounds to conclude that national security or NVIDIA secrets had been compromised, and said investigators would assess the full record.
An NDTV interview published Nov. 13 offered Aliia Roza’s account of how honey-trap approaches work. Roza told the outlet that operatives first learn a person’s goals, relationships and potential vulnerabilities, then use familiar contacts and psychological techniques to build access. NDTV identified Roza as a former Russian secret agent, but her former-agent status is unverified.
Roza said her father, whom she described as a high-ranking officer, introduced her to military and criminal-investigation work before she entered a program focused on honey trapping. Her account of her father’s role and the training is unverified.
NDTV also reported Roza’s unverified allegation that Kang Wei, Alice Huang’s husband, introduced Alice Huang to Jensen Huang. The congressional letter calls for an investigation into the publicly reported relationship; it does not state that a spying operation took place.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun rejected the “Chinese spy” allegation on Nov. 10 as unsubstantiated and said it was aimed at smearing China. Separately, NVIDIA announced Nov. 12 that Huang had resigned immediately as CEO and a board member, and named Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress interim CEO.
The board’s statement did not give a date for its findings.
