Taiwan Arrests Six Over Suspected TSMC Trade Secret Theft

Taiwanese authorities have arrested multiple individuals, including current and former employees of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), on suspicion of stealing trade secrets related to the company's advanced semiconductor technology. The arrests followed an internal investigation by TSMC, which detected unauthorized activities through its monitoring systems, leading to legal and disciplinary actions against involved personnel. The suspected theft involves critical information about TSMC's 2-nanometer chip development, a cutting-edge technology poised for mass production soon. Prosecutors are investigating whether the stolen data was leaked to external parties and have also searched the Taiwanese offices of Tokyo Electron, a Japanese supplier linked to TSMC. The individuals detained are suspected of violating Taiwan's national security law, underscoring the strategic importance of TSMC in the global semiconductor industry and the heightened competition in AI and chipmaking technologies. The case highlights the intense investment and security concerns surrounding semiconductor innovation amid a global infrastructure boom.