The world's largest chipmaker could flip a kill switch and remotely disable its machines in the event of an invasion

The world’s largest chipmaker could flip a kill switch and remotely disable its machines in the event of an invasion

Time Stamp: May 21, 2024 12:53 PM
Source Node: 2579373

TSMC is the world’s largest chipmaker, and it produces a massive percentage of the world’s advanced computer chips—by some estimates over the past few years, even around 90%. What happens if something were to happen in that part of the world to disturb this chipmaking ability? It’d be catastrophic, of course, but TSMC and its main machine supplier, Dutch company ASML, say the machines wouldn’t fall into hostile hands.

Citing people close to the matter, Bloomberg reports both TSMC and ASML have ways to disable the lithographic machines located in Taiwan. This kill switch would be able to be remotely activated, should such a drastic action ever be required.

Officials from the US government have reportedly spoken to both companies about what might happen in the event of an invasion, with ASML reassuring officials it was able to stop the machines from falling into the wrong hands.

The switch applies to the latest EUV machines out of ASML. These are also some of the most complicated, expensive, and sizable chip-making machines around today. The machines themselves have taken years to develop, and even longer to actually implement, though are now responsible for producing the most intricate and powerful computer chips today.

EUV machines demand highly trained specialists, components, resources and more in order to function properly. It’s extremely unlikely these machines could function anywhere near as effectively as they do today when disconnected from large parts of the world’s economy, if that were to be the case. Yet this is all planning for hypothetical situations, nothing is certain.

This is an Intel-owned ASML High NA EUV machine. It’s different to those run by TSMC for the most part—it’s still yet to jump on High NA—but good for an idea of what these machines actually look like. (Image credit: Intel)

Concerns over Taiwan’s national security are what have ultimately led to increased spending in chip-making facilities in the US and Europe. The CHIPS Act in the US has agreed to pay huge sums to today’s largest chip-making companies, including TSMC, Intel, and Samsung, in order to attract fab facilities to be built, maintained, and expanded on US soil. It seems to be working, too. 

Though even by today’s optimistic outlooks, a very high percentage of processors will still be manufactured in Taiwan for the foreseeable future.

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