Google Employee Charged with Stealing Confidential AI Technology
Linwei Ding, a Google employee also known as Leon Ding, has been indicted by the US Department of Justice on four counts of theft of trade secrets. The charges against Ding stem from allegations that he stole over 500 files containing Google’s AI data center hardware and software.
Authorities arrested Ding in Newark, California, located near Google’s headquarters, after an internal investigation launched by the tech giant. It is believed that Ding had been uploading confidential information since May 2022, shortly after joining Google as a software engineer.
According to the indictment, Ding allegedly used the stolen information to create a secret startup in China without Google’s knowledge. He was offered a position as Chief Technology Officer at a Chinese tech company with a monthly salary of $14,800.
In addition to working at the tech company, Ding established his own startup in China in May 2023 and served as the acting CEO. If convicted, Ding could face a fine of $250,000 for each count and up to 10 years in prison.
Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement saying that the Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of advanced technologies that could threaten national security. Google has not commented on the ongoing legal proceedings against Ding. Stay tuned to Jala News for updates on this developing story.
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