A Google engineer has been accused by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) of stealing confidential AI technology and running a secret startup in China. The indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, charged Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, with four counts of theft of trade secrets. Ding was arrested in Newark, California, just 14 miles northeast of Google’s Silicon Valley headquarters.
According to the indictment, Ding stole over 500 files containing Google’s information about its AI data center hardware and software. These files are crucial for developing powerful AI models that are currently revolutionizing various industries. Ding allegedly uploaded the confidential information to his private Google Cloud account starting in May 2022.
The DOJ also revealed that Ding created a secret startup in China without Google’s knowledge. He even convinced a colleague to badge in for him at Google’s US offices to avoid suspicion. Prosecutors claim that Ding attended meetings in China from October 2022 to March 2023 to raise money for the tech company he was secretly working for. By May 2023, Ding launched his own China-based tech startup in the AI space and served as acting CEO.
In November 2023, Ding pitched his company at an investor conference, where he stated that they had experience with Google’s computational power platform and aimed to replicate and upgrade it for China’s national conditions. If convicted, Ding could face a $250,000 fine for each count and up to 10 years in prison.
Google responded to the allegations, stating that they have strict safeguards in place to prevent the theft of confidential information. They discovered the theft after an investigation and promptly referred the case to law enforcement. Google expressed gratitude to the FBI for their assistance and emphasized that this incident involved a single junior employee and was not a widespread issue within the company.
Attorney General Merrick Garland commented on the indictment, stating that the Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, as they could pose a risk to national security.
This case comes at a time when Google is already facing legal troubles. On February 28, Business Insider’s parent company, Axel Springer, joined 31 other media groups in filing a $2.3 billion lawsuit against Google in Dutch court. The lawsuit alleges losses suffered due to Google’s advertising practices.
The allegations against Ding highlight the importance of protecting intellectual property and trade secrets in the rapidly evolving field of AI. As AI technology becomes increasingly valuable and sought after, companies must remain vigilant in safeguarding their confidential information from potential theft and unauthorized use.
