On January 10, during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) held in Las Vegas, Nevada, a Google logo was prominently displayed. This event occurred amid heightened attention to technological innovations and advancements.
However, overshadowing the excitement of the event was a serious legal matter involving a former Google software engineer of Chinese nationality. The individual, identified as Linwei Ding (38), has been accused of stealing Google’s valuable artificial intelligence (AI) trade secrets and transferring them to a Chinese company. This incident underscores the intensifying competition in AI technology between the United States and China, where leaks of sensitive technology have become increasingly common.
Reports from AP and Reuters reveal that the U.S. Department of Justice announced on the 6th of January that Ding had been arrested and charged with the theft and unauthorized dissemination of Google’s AI trade secrets. The potential consequences for Ding are severe, as he could face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $1 million if convicted, as reported by The Washington Post.
Google first detected Ding’s suspicious activities towards the end of the previous year. The company’s investigation culminated in the confiscation of Ding’s laptop on January 4, the day before he resigned from his position. Subsequently, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a search of Ding’s residence on January 6, seizing additional electronic devices and evidence related to the case.
According to the indictment, Linwei Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019, gained access to confidential information pertaining to Google’s supercomputing data centers shortly after joining the company. Starting from May 2022, Ding allegedly uploaded hundreds of files containing sensitive information to his Google Cloud account. These files included details about the software platform utilized for training large AI models through machine learning, as well as information regarding the hardware infrastructure supporting these operations.
Within a few weeks of initiating the theft of technology, Ding was offered a prominent position as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at a technology company based in China. The offer included an attractive monthly salary of $14,800, an annual bonus, and stock options. Ding traveled to China to participate in investor meetings on behalf of this company and played a key role in fundraising efforts. Additionally, he established his own startup in China, assuming the role of CEO. Notably, Ding failed to disclose these activities to Google while still in their employ. Currently, he is facing four charges, including the unauthorized disclosure of trade secrets.
In response to these allegations, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement today, expressing concern over Ding’s actions. Garland stated, “The defendant is accused of secretly working for two Chinese companies and stealing AI technology trade secrets from Google,” further emphasizing, “We will fiercely protect sensitive technology developed in the U.S. from falling into the hands of those who should not have it.” This statement underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to safeguarding American technological advancements and preventing their exploitation by unauthorized parties.