Ex-ASML employee accused of data theft is being probed for ties to China
- The former employee, who was based in China, was identified as having potential ties to a Chinese state-sponsored entity and stealing the data on its behalf
- US government officials are among those investigating a link between the former employee and Beijing
Investigators are looking at potential ties between the Chinese government and an ex-employee accused of stealing data from ASML – a company critical to producing the world’s most advanced computer chips.
The former employee, who was based in China, was identified as having potential ties to a Chinese state-sponsored entity and stealing the data on its behalf, according to two people familiar with the company’s probe, who asked not to be identified because the information is not public. The entity was one that has previously been linked to intellectual property theft, said the people, who did not provide the name of the group itself.
US government officials are among those investigating a link between the former employee and Beijing, one person familiar with that inquiry said.
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The Dutch company investigated a connection between the worker and the Chinese government itself but has not established a direct link, according to one person familiar with the situation. ASML is conducting its own investigation and declined to comment further, a company spokesperson said.
A representative for the Chinese embassy in the US did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands could not be reached for comment. The Dutch government declined to comment on whether it is also investigating a link between the former employee and the Chinese government.
US officials have accused China of using a vast system of incentives to facilitate the theft of IP from Western companies.
