Key Takeaways:
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused a Google employee named Linwei Ding of stealing confidential AI technology.- Ding was arrested on Wednesday.
- The DOJ alleges that Ding shared the stolen information with Chinese companies.
- Additionally, Ding is accused of running a Chinese-based startup while employed as a software engineer at Google.
The US Department of Justice indicted a Google employee, Linwei Ding, accusing him of stealing confidential AI technology while secretly collaborating with tech companies in China. The indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, charged Ding with four counts of theft of trade secrets. Authorities arrested Ding in Newark, California, near Google’s Silicon Valley headquarters.
According to the indictment, Ding allegedly stole over 500 files detailing Google’s AI data center hardware and software, essential for developing powerful AI models. Despite attempts to reach Ding for comment, there was no immediate response. Information about Ding’s attorney was also unavailable.
Prosecutors claimed that Ding created a secret startup in China without Google’s knowledge. He allegedly arranged for a colleague to badge in for him at Google offices in the US to conceal his activities in China. Google’s spokesperson, José Castañeda, confirmed the incident, stating that after an investigation, they referred the case to law enforcement.
Castañeda emphasized that the incident involved a single junior employee and was not widespread within the company. The indictment revealed that Ding, a Chinese national residing in Newark, joined Google in 2019 as a software engineer. His role included developing software for Google’s supercomputing data centers, granting him access to confidential information related to hardware infrastructure and AI applications.
The indictment alleged that starting in May 2022, Ding clandestinely uploaded confidential Google information to his private Google Cloud account. Federal prosecutors revealed that in June 2022, the CEO of a China-based tech company offered Ding the position of Chief Technology Officer (CTO) with a monthly salary of $14,800. During Ding’s stay in China from October 2022 to March 2023, he reportedly participated in meetings aimed at raising funds for the tech company.
Additionally, by May 2023, Ding had established his own tech startup in China’s AI sector and assumed the role of acting CEO, as outlined in the indictment. In November 2023, Ding presented his company at an investor conference where a document indicated their intention to replicate and upgrade Google’s computational power platform to develop a similar platform tailored to China’s needs.
If found guilty, Ding could face a $250,000 fine for each count and a maximum of 10 years in prison. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to combatting the theft of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence that could jeopardize national security.