Recently, discussions around national security have intensified with the introduction of a new legislative proposal aimed at ensuring that high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) do not fall into undesirable hands, specifically those of the Chinese government.

Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas recently announced the Chip Security Act, which mandates that AI hardware manufacturers incorporate geolocation tracking technologies for their products. This initiative follows a similar proposal from Congressman Bill Foster.

In a statement, Cotton emphasized, “We must do better at maintaining and expanding our position in the global market, while safeguarding America’s technological edge. With these enhanced security measures, we can continue to expand access to US technology without compromising our national security.”

The proposed bill would require that companies inform the Bureau of Industry and Security about any unauthorized tampering or diversion of their advanced technology. This applies specifically to products classified under several Export Control Classification Numbers, where high-end Nvidia GPUs and similar products fall under.

The intent is to ensure that GPUs, such as the Nvidia RTX 4090, which are classified as ECCN 3A090 and 4A090, are tracked effectively.

Nvidia has claimed that tracking its technology post-sale is beyond their capabilities but has actively denied rumors of widespread illicit hardware trafficking. Despite these reassurances, discussions about the security surrounding semiconductor production continue to raise eyebrows in Washington.