It is believed that the employee left ASML in 2022 as the company’s annual report for that year mentions that it was the victim of what it called “unauthorized embezzlement.” However, ASML CEO Peter Wennink downplayed the IP that was stolen as he said it was limited and was “one piece of a puzzle you don’t have the box for.” The executive says that ASML has tightened up its security and a similar theft can not happen again.
So overall there is great unease among U.S. officials as Huawei was able to release a 5G phone for the first time since 2020’s Mate 40 line. While ASML’s CEO says that the amount of information stolen by the employee would not be enough to help Huawei produce the Kirin 9000s, Huawei itself is planning for next year’s P70 and Mate 70 flagship lines.