TSMC staff accused of stealing 2nm secrets, sharing with rival Rapidus

A new controversy has erupted in the semiconductor industry, with reports alleging that TSMC employees leaked highly sensitive 2nm process technology details to Japanese rival Rapidus. Investigators in Taiwan are looking into the incident, which involves "hundreds" of technical photos related to advanced chipmaking methods.

The revelations have sparked concerns about corporate security in the high-risk world of semiconductor innovation.

While the competitive impact is unclear, the case highlights rising security risks in semiconductor manufacturing.



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How did TSMC find out about the supposed leak?

Taiwanese news sources say that the leak includes "hundreds" of technical photos of process integration that allegedly got to the Japanese chipmaker Rapidus.

A current TSMC employee who worked with a former colleague now at Tokyo Electron (TEL), a supplier to both TSMC and Rapidus, is said to have sent these pictures, which show important steps in the manufacturing process, as per a report by Tom's Hardware.

TSMC's internal monitoring systems first noticed strange behavior, which led to a more thorough look into the matter. This proved that private information had been shared and accessed. There is no proof that TEL knew about or was involved in the alleged wrongdoing, but the connection between the two people is now a key part of the investigation, as per a report by Tom's Hardware.

What makes 2nm process photos so sensitive?

Process integration photos show how different steps in making a semiconductor chip, like deposition, lithography, and etching, come together to make a working chip. Chipmakers usually keep their designs, materials, and process flows secret, but these visual blueprints can show them off.

For a cutting-edge node like 2nm, these details could lead to new technologies like gate-all-around transistors or more advanced patterning methods. These kinds of pictures probably won't be enough for another company to copy an entire process, but they could help improve manufacturing tools or give insights into a competitor's production capabilities, as per a report by Tom's Hardware.

Could this really help Rapidus?

Rapidus has said in public that it is working with IBM to make its own 2nm-class technology, with the goal of starting mass production in 2027. It's important to note that TSMC and Rapidus process wafers in different ways, which means that the leaked photos may not be very useful for technical reasons.

But in an industry where billions of dollars depend on staying ahead of the curve, even a little bit of information about a competitor's process can be useful for setting standards and making plans. That is why the claims have gotten a lot of attention, even though they haven't been proven yet, as per a report by Tom's Hardware.

Early reports said that as many as six people might be involved, but newer reports say that number is closer to ten. It hasn't been made clear what the leaked images show, so it's still unclear how much damage they could do to TSMC or how much benefit they could bring to Rapidus.

TSMC and Taiwan's Intellectual Property Branch of the High Prosecutors' Office are still looking into it.

FAQs

What is TSMC investigating?
A possible leak of hundreds of sensitive 2nm process photos to rival Rapidus.



Who is allegedly involved?
Tokyo Electron now employs a former staff member and a current TSMC employee.