By Nvidia is facing renewed scrutiny over its relationships with a Singapore-based data centre company after US intelligence agencies reportedly concluded that one of the company’s executives was collecting information for China, according to a report by The New York Times.
The executive, Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, was a senior figure at Megaspeed, a company suspected by US authorities of helping Chinese businesses access advanced artificial intelligence chips despite American export restrictions.
The report said US agencies had identified a close relationship between Huang and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang through surveillance.
The findings reportedly raised concerns within the Trump administration about whether information connected to Nvidia and US policy on chip exports could have reached Beijing.
President Donald Trump was briefed on the intelligence findings roughly a year ago but chose not to take action, according to people familiar with the matter cited by The New York Times.
The report said the administration was concerned about disrupting Nvidia’s business and complicating trade relations with China.
Megaspeed’s role in Nvidia’s China chip supply chain
US authorities have been investigating Megaspeed since late 2024, when a Commerce Department official reportedly found suspicious circumstances during a visit to a Malaysian data centre.
Nvidia equipment was still packed in boxes at the site, raising questions about whether the hardware was being installed or transported elsewhere.
Megaspeed operates a business model in which it purchases computing equipment and rents processing capacity to customers, including Chinese companies.
US officials suspect that some Nvidia chips acquired through the company’s network may have reached China in violation of export restrictions.
According to trade records cited by The New York Times, Megaspeed’s sister company in Malaysia purchased at least $4.8 billion worth of advanced AI equipment containing Nvidia technology between June 2024 and February 2026.
Megaspeed has continued purchasing Nvidia products through intermediaries, while its business network has remained active in Southeast Asia.
The company is also developing a data centre in Malaysia’s Johor state.
Nvidia said Megaspeed was a regional customer and that the company had previously investigated and rejected claims that the business was smuggling chips into China.
Nvidia spokesman John Rizzo said the company’s customers received ordinary business information rather than sensitive trade secrets or information relevant to national security.
Nvidia denies wrongdoing as export controls face scrutiny
The allegations come amid ongoing US efforts to restrict China’s access to advanced computing technology.
Washington introduced restrictions on exports of advanced Nvidia chips to China in 2022, although companies have continued to explore ways to provide computing capacity to Chinese customers through data centres elsewhere in Asia.
The Trump administration reversed some restrictions on such arrangements and is considering whether to tighten the rules again.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has lobbied for more permissive export policies, arguing for continued access to the Chinese market.
The New York Times reported that the close relationship between Jensen Huang and Trump had complicated efforts by some US officials to pursue stricter measures involving Nvidia and China.
Nvidia maintains that it complies with applicable laws and has said there is no evidence that its chips have been smuggled into China.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected the allegations against Alice Huang, describing them as groundless accusations against China.
Investigation leaves questions over national security risks
The US investigation into Megaspeed has reportedly moved from the Commerce Department to the Justice Department.
Singaporean authorities also questioned Alice Huang in 2025 before releasing her.
However, several aspects of the case remain unresolved.
It is unclear what information Alice Huang allegedly passed to Beijing, how it was obtained, or whether Jensen Huang knew about the intelligence agencies’ assessment of her activities.
The report also said US officials had not given the Nvidia chief executive a defensive briefing, which could have alerted the executive to the alleged intelligence operation.
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