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) trade secrets from Google. This occurred while secretly collaborating with two Chinese-based companies in the AI industry.
Ding could face up to 10 years in prison for each count if convicted. Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the severity of the charges, stating that the Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of advanced technologies that could jeopardize national security.
Allegations Against Linwei Ding
The 38-year-old Chinese national, residing in California, is accused of copying over 500 files containing confidential information from Google into his account starting in 2022. These files reportedly included technology related to Google’s advanced supercomputing data centers.
As part of his role at Google, Ding was involved in developing software for the company’s supercomputing data centers. This granted him access to Google’s hardware infrastructure, software platform, and various AI models and applications.
Transition to China and Concealment of Activities
Several months into allegedly copying Google’s files, Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology company based in China. He traveled to China for several months and participated in investor meetings, and potential investors were informed that Ding held an executive role with 20% ownership of the company.
Within a year, Ding established his own AI and machine learning technology company. The company applied to a Chinese-based startup program, boasting about its experience with Google’s computational power platform and plans to replicate and upgrade it for China’s national conditions.
Google’s Response and Investigation
Google conducted an extensive investigation into Ding’s alleged misconduct and promptly reported the case to the FBI. According to Google spokesperson José Castañeda, Ding was a junior employee, and the company has robust safeguards to prevent the theft of confidential information. Google monitors file transfers to cloud storage platforms like Google Drive and Dropbox.
Cooperation with Law Enforcement
“We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” Castañeda stated. “After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely.”
The case highlights the significant consequences individuals may face for allegedly stealing trade secrets from tech giants like Google and the steps these companies take to protect their valuable intellectual property.
