A United States court has charged a Chinese engineer, Linwei Ding, with a serious case of intellectual property theft. Ding, also known as Leon Ding, stands accused of stealing confidential information pertaining to Google’s Artificial Intelligence endeavors and utilizing this data for the benefit of two Chinese companies he was associated with.
The allegations against Ding are substantial, with claims that he illicitly obtained over 500 files from Google, a violation that could potentially result in a 10-year prison sentence and fines amounting to $250,000. Ding was initially hired by Google in 2019 and actively contributed to the company’s AI software development.
However, his actions took a deceptive turn in 2022 when he began uploading sensitive company documents to his personal Google account. This unauthorized transfer of data continued for a year as Ding concurrently worked as the Chief Technology Officer for a Chinese startup called Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology. Not stopping there, Ding also established his own company, Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, where he served as the CEO.
What adds another layer to this complex case is Ding’s calculated concealment of his involvement with these two Chinese companies from Google. In a bold move, he presented his ideas at an investor conference in China in November last year while keeping his employment with Google a secret.
When Ding eventually resigned from Google in a suspicious manner and purchased a one-way ticket to China, the tech giant grew wary. Upon discovering Ding’s covert activities, Google promptly suspended his access to the company’s systems. Subsequently, Ding was reported, arrested, and is now facing the legal consequences of his actions.
The U.S. Attorney General has expressed serious concerns over Ding’s behavior, stating that his actions pose a threat to U.S. national security. The Attorney General emphasized that Ding’s theft of technology was intended to benefit companies seeking an advantage in the ongoing AI competition.
FBI Director Christopher Wray has also weighed in, accusing Ding of attempting to abscond with American innovation for China’s gain. The case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in protecting intellectual property in the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and global competition.
