A Chinese agency backed by the country’s internet watchdog is pushing for scrutiny of Intel Corp products sold domestically, warning of security flaws and high failure rates.
Cyber Security Association of China. A little-known entity backed by China’s powerful Cybersecurity Administration called for an investigation in a public WeChat post to protect consumers. It accused Intel of allowing built-in backdoors into chips for years, compromising user security.
It is unclear whether the CAC, which oversees the country’s internet industry and data management system, endorsed the association’s position. The low-profile group of Internet companies and researchers was founded in 2016 and focuses on training and relationship-building within the industry.
“Intel products pose a serious threat to national security,” the association said in its social media post.
Beijing has waged a campaign for years to reduce reliance on foreign technology and has urged enterprises to choose local alternatives as U.S. tensions have escalated.
In a statement on Wednesday, the US chip maker said it was “making every possible effort to protect its customers.”
“Security has long been a top priority for Intel,” the company said. “We look forward to working with the relevant authorities on this matter to clarify any questions and demonstrate Intel’s deep commitment to the security of our products.”
Chinese government-linked entities have also pushed employees to abandon foreign brands such as iPhones. In 2022, Beijing ordered central government agencies and state-backed corporations to replace foreign-branded personal computers with domestic alternatives within two years, one of the most aggressive efforts yet to phase out major foreign technology.
Still, calls targeting Intel are rare, given its dominance in the PC processor market and longtime presence in China. In recent years, its dominance has waned as rivals such as Nvidia Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc have gained market share in the post-PC era.
Intel shares fell further this week after ASML Holding NV cut its sales outlook, part of a global rout for the chip sector.
With assistance from Jessica Sui and Ian King.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.