Google Employee Accused of Stealing AI Trade Secrets, Faces Federal Charges
A Google employee, Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, has been charged with four counts of theft of trade secrets for allegedly stealing artificial intelligence (AI) technology from the tech giant while collaborating with two Chinese-based companies in the AI industry.
If convicted, Ding, a 38-year-old Chinese national residing in California, could face up to 10 years in prison for each count. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the Justice Department’s commitment to safeguarding sensitive technologies that could jeopardize national security.
According to prosecutors, Ding allegedly copied over 500 files containing confidential information from Google to his personal account over a year starting in 2022. These files reportedly included technology crucial to Google’s advanced supercomputing data centers.
Ding, who had access to Google’s hardware infrastructure and AI models as part of his job responsibilities, is accused of exploiting his position to benefit two Chinese companies. After allegedly copying Google’s files, Ding was offered the role of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology firm in China. During this time, he allegedly misrepresented his location by having another employee use his badge to access his office, creating the appearance that he was in the United States.
Subsequently, Ding founded his own technology company in the AI and machine learning industry, boasting of his experience with Google’s computational power platform in investor meetings. The company allegedly sought to replicate and enhance Google’s technology for use in China.
In response, Google conducted a thorough investigation into Ding’s actions and promptly referred the case to the FBI. José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, emphasized the company’s strict safeguards to prevent the theft of confidential information and expressed gratitude to law enforcement for their assistance.
The case underscores the ongoing challenges tech companies face in protecting proprietary technology, particularly in the realm of AI, where advancements are highly sought after and competitive. As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome will be closely watched within the tech industry and beyond.
