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TSMC Reportedly Fires Staff over Suspected 2nm Leak Ahead of Mass Production

H

hskuo

Well-known member

News] TSMC Reportedly Fires Staff over Suspected 2nm Leak Ahead of Mass Production​

2025-08-05 Semiconductors editor

News
TSMC-624x416.jpg

Please note that this article cites information from Nikkei Asia.​

Right before the world’s most advanced 2nm entering mass production, foundry giant TSMC has reportedly fired multiple employees and taken legal action after uncovering suspected attempts to steal sensitive information related to the node, Nikkei Asia reports.

Sources told Nikkei the ex-staffers allegedly tried to access confidential 2nm development and production data while still at the company. TSMC confirmed it had uncovered “unauthorized activities” during routine checks, which pointed to a potential leak.

Nikkei notes that the case could carry national security implications, given that TSMC’s 2nm process is the world’s most advanced. At present, only TSMC, Samsung, Intel, and Rapidus remain in the race to develop such cutting-edge technology.

According to TrendForce, Samsung aims to start 2nm mass production in the first half of 2026, though its Tesla-backed AI6 chip project likely won’t materialize before 2028. Intel, meanwhile, is reportedly shifting focus from 18A to 14A in a bid to win over clients.

The High Prosecutors Office of Taiwan confirmed to Nikkei that the case falls under the National Security Act of 2022 and is being investigated by its Intellectual Property Branch. Investigations are ongoing into the extent of the breach, possible external links, and the intent behind the unauthorized access, according to Nikkei.

Notably, Nikkei suggests this marks the first major case involving semiconductor technology to be probed under the act, which was designed to prevent sensitive technologies from leaking to foreign adversaries. The Taiwanese government has outlined a list of “National Core Critical Technologies,” which includes integrated circuit technologies more advanced than the 14nm node. Unauthorized reproduction, use, or disclosure of trade secrets related to these core technologies is considered a violation of the law, the report notes.
 
It looks like the story did not identify who was requesting the information (Samsung? Intel? China? Rapidus?).

I assume that the perpetrators would already have authorized access. If it was not authorized, they should not be able to get the information, with the trade secret protection system in place.
 
Fred Chen said:
It looks like the story did not identify who was requesting the information (Samsung? Intel? China? Rapidus?).

I assume that the perpetrators would already have authorized access. If it was not authorized, they should not be able to get the information, with the trade secret protection system in place.
Click to expand...
The following report said TEL engineer involved. All vendors should have signed NDAs and it seems someone cross the line.
 
台積電2奈米製程技術外洩 高檢搜日商、聲押3工程師獲准
TSMC's 2-nanometer process technology leaked, the senior procuratorate searched Japanese businessmen and 3 engineers were approvedhttps://udn.com/news/story/7321/8918948
聯合報 記者張宏業／台北即時報導8/05 14:14台積電內部爆出疑技術外洩事件，知情人士指出，部分前員工在任職期間，違規取得2奈米晶片製程的關鍵技術，涉案人員已遭解職。台灣高檢署指出，檢方已於7月25至28日陸續傳喚、拘提涉案3名工程師，訊後向智財及商業法院聲請羈押禁見獲准。據了解，檢調有搜索一間名為Tokyo Electron「日本東京威力」廠商，該廠商在新竹科學園區設有辦公室。台積電2奈米製程開發難度高，投入成本極高，目前全球僅有台積電、三星、英特爾與日本Rapidus等少數企業仍持續研發。台積電預計今年底前量產2奈米晶片，該技術被視為現階段全球最先進的晶片製造工藝。據日經亞洲新聞報導，台積電內部一些前員工，任職時企圖取得並外洩2奈米晶片開發與生產的核心技術資料。高檢署指出，智慧財產檢察分署於7月25至28日，執行台積電國家核心關鍵技術之營業秘密遭非法取得案，由檢察官指揮調查局新竹市調查站、資安站及北機站偵辦。全案共搜索6處地點，拘提陳姓、吳姓6工程到案，聲押禁見陳姓、吳姓等3工程師獲准。其中陳男為前任工程師，吳男等2人為現任工程師。檢方指出，本案是台積公司主動查覺在職員工檔案接觸異常，經台積公司內部調查後，發現台積公司的國家核心關鍵技術營業秘密，疑遭前員工及在職員工非法取得，因此向高檢署提出告訴。高檢署指出，檢方將全力調查被告非法取得台積公司國家核心關鍵技術營業秘密的動機及目的，釐清秘密有無進一步外流情事，依涉案被告等人犯罪情節及台積公司受損情況，依法從嚴追訴犯行。
--United Daily reporter Zhang Hongye/Taipei real-time report 8/05 14:14 TSMC broke out suspected technology leaks. People familiar with the matter pointed out that some former employees illegally obtained key technologies for the 2--meter chip process during their tenure, and the person involved has been dismissed. Taiwan's Higher Procuratorate pointed out that the prosecution had summoned and detained three engineers involved in the case from July 25 to 28, and after the news, he filed a petition for detention and ban on the court. It is understood that the prosecutor and the inspector searched for a manufacturer called Tokyo Electron, "Japan Tokyo Power", which has an office in the Hsinchu Science park. TSMC's 2-nanometer process development is difficult and the investment cost is extremely high. Currently, only a few companies in the world, including TSMC, Samsung, Intel and Japan's Rapidus, are still continuing to develop. TSMC is expected to mass-produce 2-nanometer chips by the end of this year. This technology is regarded as the world's most advanced chip manufacturing process at this stage. According to Nikkei Asia News, some former employees of TSMC attempted to obtain and leak core technical information for the development of 2nm chips and the production of when they were in office. The Higher Procuratorate Office pointed out that from July 25 to 28, the Smart Property Procuratorate Branch secretly obtained illegally on the implementation of TSMC's national core key technologies, and the prosecutor directed the investigation of the Hsinchu City Investigation Station, Information Security Station and North Machinery Station of the Investigation Bureau. A total of 6 locations were searched for the entire case, and six projects with surname Chen and Wu were arrested. Three engineers including Chen and Wu were allowed to be arrested. Among them, Chen Nan is a former engineer from , and Wu Nan and two others are current engineers. The prosecution pointed out that this case was a case where TSMC actively found out that the file contact of employees was abnormal. After TSMC internal investigation, it was found that TSMC's national core key technology business secrets were found on , and it was suspected that they were illegally obtained by former employees and employees. Therefore, it submitted a notice to the Higher Procuratorate Department. The Higher Procuratorate Office pointed out that the prosecution will make every effort to investigate the defendant's motive for illegally obtaining TSMC's national core key technology business secrets and the purpose of , clarify whether there is any further outflow of the secret, and strictly prosecute the offenders in accordance with the criminal circumstances of the defendants and others involved in the case and the damage to TSMC.
 
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