Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. said it has dismissed multiple employees and launched legal action after internal monitoring detected unauthorised attempts to obtain confidential information about its cutting-edge 2-nanometer process technology. The world’s largest contract chipmaker said the breach was uncovered during routine security checks and stressed that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward trade-secret violations. Taiwan’s High Prosecutors Office later confirmed the detention of three suspects—two current TSMC workers and one former employee surnamed Chen—on suspicion of violating the National Security Act. Local media say another three people were questioned or released on bail, bringing the total number of arrests or detentions to six. The agency is still assessing whether any proprietary data were passed to third parties and the potential scope of the leak. Investigators have searched the Taiwanese offices of Japanese chip-equipment maker Tokyo Electron as part of the probe. Taiwanese press reports suggest the stolen files may have been funneled to Japan-backed foundry start-up Rapidus, though prosecutors have not confirmed any foreign recipient or motive. TSMC, whose chips power devices for Apple, Nvidia and other major clients, produces roughly 90% of the world’s most advanced semiconductors. The company said its robust monitoring systems enabled early detection of the breach and that it is cooperating fully with authorities while the judicial review continues.