Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s leading chip manufacturer, has reported suspicions of unauthorized activities among its employees regarding trade secrets. The company has taken disciplinary action against those involved and is cooperating with Taiwanese prosecutors to investigate the matter.
According to Nina Kao, a TSMC spokeswoman, the company detected potential trade secret leaks during routine monitoring. Three people have been detained, while three others were called in and then released. The investigation is being led by the intellectual property branch of the Office of the High Prosecutor in Taiwan.
The incident comes at a tense time between Taiwan and the US, with officials weighing tariffs on semiconductors, including those made by TSMC for tech giants like Nvidia and Apple. Both governments view access to chips as a national security concern.
TSMC’s advanced chips are the result of decades of investment in Taiwan and are highly sought after by companies such as Huawei, which was found to have used TSMC-made chips in a device last year. The company has emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards actions that compromise trade secrets or harm its interests.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/business/taiwan-tsmc-chips-leak-trade-secrets.html