Former Google Engineer Charged with Stealing Artificial Intelligence Technology for Beijing-Based Company
A former software engineer for Google in California, Linwei Ding, also known as Leon, has been charged with attempting to transfer artificial intelligence technology to a Beijing-based company in exchange for secret payments. The federal indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, accuses Mr. Ding of stealing information about Google’s A.I. supercomputer data system and software used for cutting-edge machine learning and A.I. technology.
According to prosecutors, Mr. Ding uploaded 500 files containing trade secrets from his Google-issued laptop to the cloud between May 2022 and May 2023. He was arrested at his home in Newark, Calif., near Google’s main campus in Mountain View.
The indictment reveals that Mr. Ding was paid $14,800 per month by a China-based technology company starting in June 2022, without disclosing this information to his supervisors at Google. He also allegedly worked with another company in China and sought funding for a new A.I. start-up at an investor conference in Beijing.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the importance of protecting advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, stating that the Justice Department will not tolerate theft that could jeopardize national security. The charges highlight the competitive landscape in the field of artificial intelligence, with both the U.S. and China vying for leadership.
Intellectual property theft has been a contentious issue in U.S.-China relations, with previous cases involving stolen technology from companies like IBM, Apple, and AMSC. The F.B.I. director has described intellectual property theft from China as a significant threat to U.S. economic and national security.
Google has stated that its security systems detected the theft of confidential information by Mr. Ding, who was acting alone according to the company. However, the indictment suggests that another Google employee assisted Mr. Ding in concealing a trip to China.
Mr. Ding’s background includes degrees from the Dalian Institute of Technology, the University of Southern California, and Stanford. He has worked at various companies in the semiconductor and healthcare industries, earning awards at Google for his engineering feats.
The case underscores the importance of safeguarding proprietary technology and trade secrets in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence development. As the investigation unfolds, the implications of Mr. Ding’s actions on national security and technological innovation will continue to be closely monitored.
