Former Google engineer arrested for stealing AI secrets for China

A former Google engineer, Linwei Ding, was charged with four counts of theft of trade secrets for stealing more than files containing artificial intelligence trade secrets from Google and using them to benefit rival tech companies in China.

How Ding stole the secrets

Ding allegedly copied information from Google’s files into Apple Notes on his laptop first, and then converted them to PDF files that he uploaded to his personal Google account to evade detection by Google’s data loss prevention systems. He also gave his Google badge to another Google employee in California to make it seem like he was working from Google’s offices in the state while actually working for rival companies in China.

Why this matters

The development comes at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and China over the explosion of artificial intelligence. The US has banned the export of advanced AI chips to China to stop the country from using AI to strengthen its military. The FBI director said that the theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences.

What’s next

Ding was arrested in Newark, California, and faces up to years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for each count if convicted. This is not the first time that the US has arrested a Chinese national for stealing trade secrets from American companies. In the last few years, the US attorney’s office in San Francisco has charged three former Apple employees for stealing trade secrets related to the Apple Car and siphoning them off to companies in China.