The Alleged Theft of AI Secrets by a Former Google Engineer
A former Google engineer is facing charges for allegedly stealing AI technology while collaborating with two China-based companies.
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A former Google engineer is accused of stealing AI technology while working with two China-based companies.
The Chinese national supposedly took over 500 files from Google containing confidential information on the company’s AI technology. The Justice Department has arrested and charged him with stealing trade secrets.
The defendant, Linwei Ding, a former Google employee, was apprehended in Newark, Calif., facing four counts of theft of trade secrets. Prosecutors claim that while working at Google and taking its AI technology components, Ding was also employed by two China-based tech firms.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that could jeopardize our national security,” stated Attorney General Merrick Garland. “We will vigorously safeguard sensitive technologies developed in America from falling into the wrong hands.”
China’s Alleged Campaign to Steal U.S. Trade Secrets
This case is a prime example of what American officials describe as China’s continuous efforts to steal U.S. trade secrets, technology, and intellectual property. China’s purported goal is to leverage these stolen secrets to surpass the U.S. as the leading global power.
“Today’s charges demonstrate how far Chinese-affiliated companies are willing to go to steal American innovation,” remarked FBI Director Christopher Wray. “Theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can have severe economic and national security repercussions.”
The U.S. holds a prominent position in AI, a transformative technology with the potential to reshape various aspects of modern life. However, the Justice Department has cautioned about the risks AI poses to national security if it falls into the wrong hands.
In Ding’s case, the stolen trade secrets are related to Google’s supercomputing data centers’ hardware infrastructure and software platform, crucial for training large AI models through machine learning.
Google’s spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, emphasized the company’s stringent measures to prevent theft of confidential commercial information and trade secrets. After discovering the theft, Google promptly reported the case to law enforcement and expressed gratitude to the FBI for their assistance.
The indictment reveals that Ding joined Google as a software engineer in 2019, focusing on software development for machine learning and AI applications. In May 2022, Ding allegedly started transferring confidential information from Google’s network to his personal Google Cloud account.
Ding attempted to conceal his actions by first copying the files to the Apple Notes app on his laptop, converting them to PDFs, and then uploading them to his personal Cloud account. Subsequently, Ding received an offer to become the chief technology officer of a Chinese tech company, Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology.
Ding traveled to China to assist in fundraising for the company and was later announced as its CTO. Additionally, Ding purportedly established his own tech company, Zhisuan, focusing on AI and machine learning. Prosecutors claim that Ding concealed his affiliations with these Chinese companies from Google while remaining employed by the tech giant.
In December 2023, Google detected Ding attempting to upload more files from the company’s network to his personal account while in China. Ding allegedly claimed that he did so as evidence of his work for Google. Shortly after being questioned by Google’s investigator, Ding booked a one-way ticket to Beijing, resigned from Google, and disclosed his involvement with Zhisuan. Google then suspended his network access, leading to the FBI launching an investigation.
The FBI initiated an investigation shortly thereafter.
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