TEL says no evidence TSMC 2nm secrets leaked after ex-employee indicted

Taipei, Aug. 28 (CNA) Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL) said Thursday its internal investigation has so far found no evidence that confidential information about Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s (TSMC) 2-nanometer technology was leaked to a third party.

The statement by the Tokyo-headquartered company came one day after the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office indicted three engineers on charges under Taiwan's National Security Act for the extraterritorial use of "national core key technologies" trade secrets.

TEL confirmed a former employee of its Taiwan subsidiary, Tokyo Electron Taiwan Limited, has been indicted by Taiwan's judicial authorities.

The company said it is treating the case seriously and expressed regret over the matter.

TEL said compliance with laws and ethical standards is its "top management policy" and stressed that it did not tolerate violations.

Information security, including the protection of sensitive data belonging to customers and other stakeholders, is "one of its most important operational concerns," the company said.

TEL also said its internal investigation has "not found any organized instructions directing the former employee to obtain improper information" and pledged to continue full cooperation with Taiwan judicial authorities.