BEIJING, July 31 (Reuters) - China's cyberspace

regulator said it has asked U.S. semiconductor maker Nvidia ( NVDA )

to explain whether its H20 artificial intelligence

chips have any backdoor security risks.

The Cyberspace Administration of China said it met with

Nvidia ( NVDA ) on Thursday after U.S. lawmakers called for advanced

chips sold abroad to be equipped with tracking and positioning

functions.

The regulator said the matter raised concerns over the

potential impact on Chinese user data and privacy rights.

Nvidia ( NVDA ) did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for

comment.

In May, U.S. senator Tom Cotton introduced a bill that

would direct the Commerce Department to require location

verification mechanisms for AI chips subject to export

restrictions, to curb Chinese access to advanced U.S.

semiconductor technology.

The U.S. this month reversed an April ban on Nvidia ( NVDA ) selling

the H20 to China.

Nvidia ( NVDA ) developed the H20 chip for the Chinese market after

the U.S. imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips in

late 2023. The chip has had a turbulent path to market amid

shifting regulatory policies.