BEIJING, Oct 17 (Alliance News): The Cybersecurity Association of China (CSAC) called on Wednesday for a security review of Intel products sold in China, citing concerns over national security.
In a detailed post on its official WeChat account, CSAC accused the US chipmaker of “constantly harming” China’s national interests, alleging that Intel chips, including Xeon processors used for AI tasks, pose significant vulnerabilities and potential backdoors exploited by the US National Security Agency (NSA).
While CSAC is an industry body with close ties to the Chinese government, its accusations could prompt action from China’s powerful cyberspace regulator, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC).
The potential review could negatively impact Intel’s revenue, as more than a quarter of the company’s sales last year came from China.
Intel responded by stating it prioritizes product safety and quality and would continue discussions with relevant authorities. The CAC has yet to comment on the matter.
This follows last year’s CAC decision to bar domestic operators from using US memory chipmaker Micron Technology Inc.’s products, marking Intel as the latest target amid increasing US-China tech tensions.