Netherlands jail ex-ASML worker for sharing chip secrets with Russia

A Dutch court has sentenced a former employee of ASML Holding NV to three years in prison for stealing trade secrets and violating sanctions laws by passing sensitive semiconductor manufacturing data to Russia.

The 43-year-old Russian national, who also worked for NXP Semi conductors and other chip firms between 2015 and 2024, was convicted by the Rotterdam court for providing “technical assistance” to Russia, Caliber.Az reports per Bloomberg.

According to the court ruling, he shared confidential files related to the setup of microchip production lines with an individual in Russia, enabling their use inside the country.

The man’s actions were found to be in breach of the Dutch Sanctions Act, which was significantly expanded following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 to restrict the flow of goods, services, and expertise that could bolster Moscow’s war capabilities.

“Providing advice to and sharing technology with Russia is extremely severe,” the court stated. “It can contribute to strengthening that country’s military or strategic capabilities, which has consequences for Ukraine and indirectly impacts international security and stability.”

ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, is the world’s leading supplier of advanced photolithography systems used in microchip production. Its equipment is vital for the creation of chips used in everything from consumer electronics to military technologies. The company has increasingly found itself at the center of global tech tensions, especially amid U.S.-led efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to cutting-edge semiconductor tools. In 2023, ASML accused a Chinese employee of data theft involving chip technology.

The convicted man denied having ties to Russian intelligence or security services, according to Dutch news agency ANP. It remains unclear whether he was financially compensated for the information he shared.

Following the completion of his prison sentence, the man will be barred from entering the Netherlands for a period of 20 years.

By Sabina Mammadli