Europe, US warn of fake-chip danger to national security, critical systems

[Mary Wilson]

Fri 18 Mar 2022 // 12:28 UTC

Agam Shah

Counterfeiters are making the most of the ongoing electronics supply crunch by peddling sham semiconductors to desperate buyers – and it's caught the attention of governments.

In a report [PDF] out this month, the European Union's law enforcement agency Europol highlighted the dangers of knockoff semiconductors to critical infrastructure as well as people's private devices.

The fear is that within the planet's complex supply chains, someone under pressure from customers to fulfill orders by any means necessary accepts components that turn out to be fake, and these will end up in equipment. These parts can be readily picked up from online marketplaces, and they look convincing enough.

"Counterfeiters are exploiting the global supply shortage in semiconductor chips," Europol's report reads.

... "Disruptions in supply chains and the possible introduction of counterfeit components has the potential to cause serious failures in critical infrastructures. Semiconductors are an integral part of critical systems used in the healthcare sector, transport, defense, and trade. The risk of privately used electronic devices being affected is also high. Additionally, counterfeit electronic devices may also feature malware and other harmful software, adding the risk of data theft." ...

https://www.theregister.com/2022/03/18/eu_us_counterfeit_chips/

 

[Mary Wilson]

European Union Intellectual Property O ce 2022

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CRIME THREAT ASSESSMENT 2022

ISBN978-92-9156-310-4 doi:10.2814/830719 TB-08-22-009-EN-N

... TABLE OF CONTENTS ...

Types of products .................................................. ...............................................11

1. 1 Clothes, accessories and luxury goods .......................................................11
2. 2 Electronic/electrical devices, mobile phones and components .................. 12
3. 3 Food and drink .................................................. ........................................ 13
4. 4 Perfumes and cosmetic products .................................................. ............ 16
5. 5 Pesticides........................................ .................................................. ........ 18
6. 6 Pharmaceutical products .................................................. ......................... 20
7. 7 Piracy .................................................. .................................................. ... 23
8. 8 Tobacco products .................................................. .................................... 26
9. 9 Toys .................................................. .................................................. .......29
10. 10 Other commodities .................................................. ................................ 30
11. 11 Packagingmaterials................................ .................................................. 31

... • Counterfeiters are exploiting the global supply shortage in semiconductor chips. Mobile phones,their accessories and components are among the most a ected commodities targeted by IP designand trade mark infringements.

•The production of illicit food products, especially drinks, is increasingly professional and sophisticated. Some counterfeiters operate an end-to-end business model, covering the whole supply and distribution chain. Violations of protected geographical indications cover a wide range of products and continue to be widely reported. ...

https://www.europol.europa.eu/cms/si...t%202022_2.pdf