TSMC Fires Employees Who Tried to Leak 2nm Data

TSMC dismissed several employees and started legal action after they allegedly attempted to access confidential 2nm development and production data. The company uncovered unauthorised activity after conducting an internal investigation.

The data breach was identified early. The contract chipmaker plans to begin mass production later this year, utilizing its most advanced 2nm process technology. TSMC is barred from exporting 7nm and more advanced chips to customers in China.

In March, Taiwan launched an investigation into China’s largest chipmaker, SMIC, which was suspected of illegally recruiting local employees to support the company’s push to manufacture advanced chips. SMIC is rumoured to have developed a chip using 5nm process technology in the first half of 2024, despite not having access to advanced extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment from ASML.