TSMC Engineers Caught Sharing 2nm Technology Secrets at Coffee Shop, Allegedly Leaking Information to Japan’s Rapidus

Recently, TSMC has experienced a significant breach of confidential information concerning its innovative chip technologies. This incident has raised concerns over the potential involvement of Japanese semiconductor companies.

Alarming Breach of TSMC’s 2nm Technology: Japanese Firms Implicated; Nine Engineers Arrested

Currently, TSMC, Taiwan’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, is facing a challenging situation. Reports suggest that internal personnel have leaked critical trade secrets, putting the exclusivity of the company’s advanced 2nm process at risk. According to a report from the Taiwan Economic Daily, TSMC engineers involved in the breach were apprehended in a coffee shop, revealing an unexpected method of theft.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the employees implicated had been operating remotely using company laptops. They accessed the firm’s database from their homes, capturing sensitive data through their smartphones. Over 400 images tied to TSMC’s advanced 2nm technology have reportedly been leaked, detailing aspects of trial production and technical specifications. Notably, one source indicated that the time it took these employees to log into the company system and extract information was merely three minutes, focusing solely on the 2nm database.

Initially, speculation surrounding the breach pointed towards potential involvement from China or Russia; however, emerging insights from Taiwanese sources suggest that the compromised information could have been funneled to Japanese semiconductor firms, particularly Rapidus. Noteworthy is the fact that one of the detained engineers previously worked for Tokyo Electron. Although definitive connections between the breach and any advantages gained by Japan remain unverified, it is significant to note that Rapidus has been making rapid strides in its development of 2nm technologies, hinting at a potential link.

The occurrence of this breach highlights TSMC’s pivotal role within the geopolitical landscape, necessitating a reassessment and enhancement of its security protocols to safeguard critical technological advancements.

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