Nvidia has opened an independent investigation into reports that place its founder and chief executive officer, Jensen Huang, as the target of a foreign intelligence operation. The announcement, made this Sunday, November 8, comes after the Financial Times published that U.S. authorities believe he had a romantic relationship with an executive allegedly recruited by China.
Huang has acknowledged an extramarital relationship and has apologized to his family. The admission of that personal relationship and the suspicions of espionage constitute two distinct elements: acknowledging the first does not confirm the activities attributed to the woman nor does it show that the executive knew of a possible operation.
What the Financial Times has published
According to the Financial Times, U.S. officials prepared a document based on intelligence information that described a romantic relationship between Huang and Alice Huang, an executive linked to Megaspeed, a company headquartered in Singapore and a client of Nvidia.
The newspaper attributes to U.S. intelligence services the assessment that the executive had been recruited by the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
The information places under scrutiny both access to data about the company and possible attempts to influence decisions related to its chips. The identity of the executive and her alleged activity have also appeared in journalistic investigations by other U.S. media outlets.
Huang admits infidelity and apologizes
In the message addressed to the company collected by elDiario.es, Huang acknowledges having been “unfaithful” to his wife and having caused harm to her and to his children. “There is no excuse for what I did, I am deeply sorry,” he says.
Axios has also reported the admission based on a draft email intended for employees. The outlet reports that Nvidia’s public policy communications director, John Rizzo, says the investigation will not interrupt operations and that Huang will continue carrying out his duties as chief executive officer.
What Nvidia’s board will investigate
The board has announced an independent review and indicated that it will examine the information available. According to the business response collected by elDiario.es, Huang supports the investigation and has committed to cooperate.
The company claims that, for now, it has no grounds to believe that any Nvidia secrets or the national security of the United States have been compromised. Reuters has taken up that position from the board. The opening of the investigation therefore does not amount to a confirmation of leaks.
The U.S. Congress also demands explanations
The case had already reached Congress before the announcement made this Sunday. Reuters reported on a letter dated November 4 in which three Republican officials requested a closed-door meeting with Huang for the 18th.
The request was signed by Brian Mast, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee; John Moolenaar, head of the committee on China; and Eric Crawford, chairman of the Intelligence Committee. The legislators demanded explanations about their contacts with Alice Huang and about Nvidia’s protocols regarding foreign espionage.
In response to those questions, Nvidia defended that its chief executive meets with thousands of executives from client companies and that they receive ordinary commercial information, not sensitive secrets. The parliamentary request set November 18 as the proposed date; the information consulted does not support that the meeting has been confirmed.