Former ASML employee stole chip manufacturing data-ASML
2023.02.16 04:19
Former ASML employee stole chip manufacturing data-ASML
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – As tensions between the United States and China rise, ASML, a Dutch manufacturer of chip equipment, has accused a former employee in China of stealing data related to its proprietary technology. This case highlights ASML’s significance to the global semiconductor supply chain.
The company stated in its annual report on Wednesday that the breach may have violated certain export control regulations, despite the fact that it did not consider the incident to be significant to its business.
It also stated that the company has reported the violation to the authorities and is currently implementing new “remedial measures in light of this incident.”
ASML did not provide any additional information regarding the incident, which it stated was under internal review.
On Wednesday, Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded that he was unaware of the incident.
The disclosure by ASML comes in the midst of increased scrutiny regarding who ought to have access to its technology.
The production of lithography machines, which use light to print patterns on silicon, has made the company famous. When making microchips in large quantities, this step is very important.
Experts have cited ASML as a sign of the growing divide between China and the West over control of advanced technology, including semiconductors, because of its market dominance.
According to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters citing unidentified sources, the Netherlands and Japan have joined the United States in restricting the sale of some computer chip machinery to China.
Last month, ASML issued a statement announcing that export control regulations that could have an impact on the business were “being finalized.”
However, citing initial remarks made by government officials and market conditions, the company stated that it did not anticipate any significant impact on its financial projections for 2023. Since 2019, ASML had been prohibited from exporting its most cutting-edge lithography technology to China.
According to the company, “it has to be detailed out and implemented into legislation, which will take time” before the new measures can take effect.
The rumored agreement has been criticized by a Chinese industry group, which claims that it will harm both businesses and consumers.
“If the move becomes a reality, it will cause serious harm to the semiconductor industry in China, with detriment to the global economy,” the China Semiconductor Industry Association stated in a statement on Wednesday.
As the company continues to gain prominence, ASML has acknowledged that it may face additional threats.
According to the company’s annual report, “there is a risk that this may lead to actions that may adversely impact the security of ASML or the safety of its employees” as its visibility increased.
It added that the number of cyberattacks on the company’s IT systems, including attempts to access data, is already rising.
China has previously been mentioned as a potential infringer of intellectual property by ASML.
According to the company’s 2021 annual report, it was concerned that another company “was actively marketing products in China that could potentially infringe on” its intellectual property rights and had reported this to the Chinese authorities.
At the time, it stated that ASML was keeping an eye on the situation and was “ready to take legal action if appropriate.”
