Wistron former executive indicted for stealing 5G trade secrets

Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted a former female department head at Wistron Corporation for allegedly stealing 5G-related trade secrets. The indictment claims that between late 2022 and April 2023, the former employee, identified as Ms. Yang, used her corporate email to unauthorizedly transfer confidential technical data to help establish a new company, Starbright Technology.

The stolen information includes 5G chip circuit board designs, block diagrams, and bills of materials (BOM) belonging to Wistron’s clients, including the American semiconductor startup EdgeQ. The data detailed component arrangements, quantities, specifications, and supplier information for 5G, AI, and RISC-V architecture products.

Wistron discovered the breach during an internal audit in April 2023 after noticing data anomalies. Digital forensics revealed that Ms. Yang had copied trade secrets to a personal USB drive and transferred them to a laptop provided by Starbright Technology. Prosecutors have charged Ms. Yang with violating the Trade Secrets Act, breach of trust, and unauthorized acquisition of electromagnetic records. Several other individuals, including her husband, have also been indicted.