French Electronic Component Supplier with Chinese Ties Raises Security Concerns for Czech ID Cards
Products from French electronic component supplier Linxens are used in Czech national ID cards. Linxens' partial ownership by two Chinese investment firms, which faced US trade restrictions in 2024 over national security concerns, has raised security questions.
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- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 09:08
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 09:23 (15 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 22:17 (84h 53m after Collected)
Products from French electronic component supplier Linxens are used in Czech national ID cards. Linxens' partial ownership by two Chinese investment firms, which the US placed under trade restrictions in 2024 over national security concerns, has raised security questions.
According to the Financial Times, one of Linxens' clients is the Czech State Printing Office of Securities (Státní tiskárna cenin), which manufactures the chip components for Czech national ID cards.
The report states that the holding company owning Linxens was established by an investment group led by two Beijing-based private equity firms, Wise Road Capital and JAC Capital.
These two companies were placed on a US trade restriction list in 2024 because the US believes they assisted the Chinese government in acquiring companies with sensitive semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, which are strategically important to the defense industrial base of the US and its allies.
US restrictions also apply to subsidiaries where sanctioned companies hold a majority stake. However, since Wise Road Capital and JAC Capital collectively hold less than 50% of Linxens' shares, Linxens itself is not directly subject to sanctions.
The Financial Times noted that a person familiar with Linxens' situation said, "The company's detailed knowledge of national identity documents itself constitutes an intelligence risk." Linxens has access to chips during the manufacturing process, meaning there is a very small possibility of hardware tampering.
Linxens emphasized that the company cannot access the chips' transmission and personalization keys and has recently introduced technology to detect chip tampering.
Regarding the security concerns, the Czech State Printing Office of Securities stated that no security risks have been identified. The chips used in the ID cards are produced by a "trusted Dutch company," and Linxens fully meets all legal requirements for participating in the relevant procurement tenders.
Furthermore, Linxens has contracted with Thales, a defense company contracted by the UK Home Office, to produce passports. Linxens also has a contract with the French National Printing Office (Imprimerie Nationale) to supply electronic chip modules for passports.
In response, the UK Home Office stated that the inlays provided by Linxens do not pose "any security threat." The French government did not respond to the Financial Times' inquiries.
According to the Financial Times, one of Linxens' clients is the Czech State Printing Office of Securities (Státní tiskárna cenin), which manufactures the chip components for Czech national ID cards.
The report states that the holding company owning Linxens was established by an investment group led by two Beijing-based private equity firms, Wise Road Capital and JAC Capital.
These two companies were placed on a US trade restriction list in 2024 because the US believes they assisted the Chinese government in acquiring companies with sensitive semiconductor manufacturing capabilities, which are strategically important to the defense industrial base of the US and its allies.
US restrictions also apply to subsidiaries where sanctioned companies hold a majority stake. However, since Wise Road Capital and JAC Capital collectively hold less than 50% of Linxens' shares, Linxens itself is not directly subject to sanctions.
The Financial Times noted that a person familiar with Linxens' situation said, "The company's detailed knowledge of national identity documents itself constitutes an intelligence risk." Linxens has access to chips during the manufacturing process, meaning there is a very small possibility of hardware tampering.
Linxens emphasized that the company cannot access the chips' transmission and personalization keys and has recently introduced technology to detect chip tampering.
Regarding the security concerns, the Czech State Printing Office of Securities stated that no security risks have been identified. The chips used in the ID cards are produced by a "trusted Dutch company," and Linxens fully meets all legal requirements for participating in the relevant procurement tenders.
Furthermore, Linxens has contracted with Thales, a defense company contracted by the UK Home Office, to produce passports. Linxens also has a contract with the French National Printing Office (Imprimerie Nationale) to supply electronic chip modules for passports.
In response, the UK Home Office stated that the inlays provided by Linxens do not pose "any security threat." The French government did not respond to the Financial Times' inquiries.