Key facts
- Nine people, including individuals linked to Nvidia and Super Micro, were charged in Taiwan.
- The charges relate to the illegal export of 'high-end AI servers' containing restricted 'B300' GPUs to mainland China.
- Seventy-four servers were successfully smuggled, while an attempt involving 56 servers failed.
- The US has imposed export restrictions on advanced chips and AI infrastructure to China.
- Prosecutors are seeking up to five-year sentences for some defendants, including an Nvidia manager.
Taiwanese prosecutors have charged nine individuals, including an Nvidia employee and two former Super Micro employees, for allegedly smuggling high-end AI servers containing restricted graphics processing units (GPUs) to mainland China. The servers involved were identified as 'B300' GPUs, which are subject to US export bans aimed at curbing China's AI development capabilities.
Prosecutors stated that 74 servers were successfully exported, with some sent directly to China, others via Indonesia, and eight transiting through Japan and Hong Kong. An additional attempt to export 56 servers failed, and the equipment remains in Taiwan. The US has progressively tightened restrictions on advanced chip exports to China since 2022, impacting AI infrastructure crucial for technological competition.
Nvidia confirmed its cooperation with Taiwanese authorities, while Super Micro stated its commitment to enhancing export compliance. Prosecutors are seeking maximum five-year sentences for some defendants, including an Nvidia manager identified as the "key figure" in authorizing the release of the restricted GPUs.