Former Google employee Leon Ding has been charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ) with theft of AI trade secrets. According to the indictment, Ding allegedly transferred research and confidential information from Google to companies based in China.
Unsealed on Monday, the indictment accuses Ding, a former software engineer at Google, of unlawfully sharing sensitive company information with Chinese technology firms. The DOJ alleges that Ding transferred company data to Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology Co. using personal online accounts.
The indictment specifies that Ding shared confidential details concerning Google’s hardware and software infrastructure, AI models, and associated applications. It is claimed that over 500 unique files were transmitted between May 2022 and May 2023, containing trade secrets such as chip architecture and software designs related to Google’s Cloud Tensor Processing Units and Cluster Management System.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division remarked, “Mr. Ding allegedly schemed to siphon off cutting-edge AI technology from Google while secretly trying to go into business with Chinese competitors.”
This case underscores broader concerns regarding the management of AI innovation and ongoing geopolitical tensions between the United States and China. The U.S. government has implemented measures to address risks associated with Chinese tech companies and safeguard intellectual property from interception by Chinese entities.
Earlier this year, the National Science Foundation identified China as the primary competitor to the U.S. in the global AI technology research and development landscape.
U.S. Attorney Ismail Ramsey stated, “While Linwei Ding was employed as a software engineer at Google, he was secretly working to enrich himself and two companies based in the People’s Republic of China.”
If convicted, Ding could face fines of up to $250,000 for each count and a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
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