Industrial Espionage Case at Delta Electronics Linked to Outdated Battery Technology
In an intriguing turn of events, Delta Electronics Inc. revealed on Wednesday, May 10, that a former employee, suspected of engaging in industrial espionage, had exclusively targeted older electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. The investigation into this espionage case unfolded concurrently with a separate probe into the matter at Phihong Technology, a Taiwanese battery company.
According to CNA, prosecutors uncovered a startling connection between the two incidents: one of the suspects involved in the Phihong case was identified as a former Delta employee who had illicitly shared confidential information with a Chinese technology firm.
Delta Electronics clarified that the implicated ex-staff member, identified by the surname Juan (阮), had served in the company's EV battery department from 2014 to 2018. The Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) and the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office, in their joint efforts, successfully ascertained that Juan had unlawfully accessed and extracted intellectual property data from Delta.
However, the stolen information primarily pertained to outdated products related to Tesla EV battery chargers, minimizing the potential impact on Delta's ongoing operations. Due to the confidentiality requirements surrounding the investigation, Delta refrained from divulging further specifics.
In a parallel development, Phihong Technology uncovered anomalies within its cybersecurity management systems in 2021, prompting the company to promptly notify the relevant authorities. This proactive approach ensured that confidential data remained uncompromised, averting any significant damages.
