ASML Holding NV, a key part of the global semiconductor industry, said a former employee in China stole data about its technology, a disclosure that threatens to heighten political tensions amid heightened concerns over espionage.
The Dutch tech company, which makes the machines needed to make the high-end chips used in everything from electric cars to military gear, launched an internal probe and tightened security controls after a recent data breach was discovered. It said on Wednesday that export controls may have been violated, exposing the company to a potential regulatory backlash.
ASML’s data breach involved technical information rather than hardware, and was carried out by a male employee over the past few months, according to a person familiar with the matter. Dutch and U.S. authorities have been notified because the investigation is still ongoing, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
