As reported by CNBC AI News on August 6th, a recent leak concerning TSMC’s 2nm process technology has sparked significant discussion within the industry. The alleged breach, impacting TSMC’s R&D center and Fab 20 facility in Hsinchu’s Baoshan district, involves nine individuals, including three engineers from the 2nm trial production team and six from R&D support.
TSMC’s unique position as the only manufacturer capable of mass-producing cutting-edge nodes like 3nm and 2nm has made it a target. In a curious twist, the alleged leak involves Tokyo Electron (TEL), a Japanese company and partner of Rapidus, which aims to produce 2nm chips within the next two years. This intensifies scrutiny of the competitive landscape and the protection of intellectual property in the advanced semiconductor manufacturing arena.
Tokyo Electron has acknowledged the inquiries but said it would refrain from making any comments.
According to Taiwan’s Mirror Media, TSMC had implemented stringent security measures to prevent such leaks. This reportedly included replacing Android devices with iPhones across the company for enhanced security and recruiting U.S. retired security experts to build a comprehensive information security system. Strict access controls were also in place, prohibiting individuals with conflicting interests from entering certain facilities. The comprehensive approach to security highlights the immense value assigned to their technological advantage.
The leak was reportedly detected by TSMC’s internal PIP (Potential Infringement Prevention) program, which monitors facility access, personnel activity, and equipment usage.
Former TSMC engineers have described the company’s security system as pervasive, with remote access to corporate data tracked and monitored even during off-hours. Any perceived anomalies trigger alerts to management and, in some cases, lead to investigations involving employee devices and potential police intervention. This level of vigilance underscores the challenges and lengths to which companies will go to protect their proprietary knowledge.
TSMC’s CEO, C.C. Wei, previously expressed confidence in the company’s security protocols. He had dismissed concerns about potential leaks stemming from the company’s investment in U.S. facilities, stating simply, “Of course there will be no leaks.”
Ironically, while U.S. operations remain secure, the leak appears to have originated from TSMC’s own headquarters, underscoring the persistent challenges of internal security threats, even in the most secure environments.
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