Currently, only TSMC, Samsung, Intel and Rapidus are capable of producing chips using 2nm technology. This fabrication technology is state-of-the-art and therefore kept secret so that it cannot be copied by competitors. Yesterday, TSMC reportedly fired several employees who were believed to have tried to access the company's 2nm technology without authorization.
This activity of accessing confidential information was discovered by TSMC during an internal investigation. Six people have now been arrested by the Taiwan Prosecutor's Office, including three TSMC engineers, after secret files were found in a raid on their homes. Taiwan has a bill that states that 14nm chip production technology is recognized as an important state secret. Any attempt to steal it will be subject to legal action.
Prosecutors are currently in the process of identifying whether the secret of producing 2nm chips has been given to TSMC's competitors. Among those being investigated is Tokyo Electron, a company that supplies chip fabrication machines based in Japan.
TSMC's 2nm technology is believed to be used for the first time on the Apple A19 chip for the iPhone 17 series. Competitor Samsung is using their 2nm GAA technology on the Exynos 2600 chip while Intel will skip straight to their 18A technology to get ahead of the competition.