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A former Google staffer was charged with four counts of stealing AI-related trade secrets from the search engine giant while covertly working for a pair of Chinese firms.
US authorities have arrested an ex-Google software engineer, charging the man with four counts of “theft of trade secrets”.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Linwei Ding, 38 – also known as Leon Ding – stole information relating to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, as well as other data.
Ding is a Chinese national who, until his arrest, lived in Newark, California. At the same time as he was working for Google, Ding was secretly employed by two technology companies based in China.
Ding allegedly transferred the stolen data – which the DOJ describes as “the building blocks of Google’s advanced super-computing data centres” – to a personal storage account, uploading 500 files between May 2022 and May 2023. Ding’s role at Google gave him access to information on the super-computing hardware the company uses to run its AI platforms.
During this time, the Chinese national travelled to Beijing and was confirmed as the chief technology officer of a newly launched technology company. Ding also set himself up as the chief executive of his own China-based company in the machine learning sector. According to the indictment against Ding, a document related to the new company said: “We have experience with Google’s ten-thousand-card computational power platform; we just need to replicate and upgrade it – and then further develop a computational power platform suited to China’s national conditions.”
Ding hid his activity in China by convincing a colleague at Google to use his security card to gain access to Google’s office.
“While we work to responsibly harness the benefits of AI, the Justice Department is on high alert to its risks, including global threats to our national security,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco in a statement.
“As alleged in today’s charges, the defendant stole from Google over 500 confidential files containing AI trade secrets, while covertly working for China-based companies seeking an edge in the AI technology race. The Justice Department will relentlessly pursue and hold accountable those who would syphon disruptive technologies – especially AI – for unlawful export.”
FBI boss Christopher Wray has said the case typifies the lengths Chinese companies are willing to go to acquire cutting-edge technology.
“Today’s charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation,” Wray said.
“The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences. The FBI will continue its efforts to vigorously pursue those responsible for stealing US companies’ intellectual property and most closely guarded secrets.”
Ding was arrested overnight and could face a maximum of 10 years in jail and a fine of up to US$250,000 for each count against him.
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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