WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department announced on Wednesday that Linwei Ding, a former software engineer at Google, has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence technology from the company while collaborating with two Chinese-based companies. Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was apprehended in Newark, California, facing four counts of federal trade secret theft, each carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.
The case against Ding was revealed at an American Bar Association Conference in San Francisco by Attorney General Merrick Garland, underscoring the ongoing concerns regarding Chinese economic espionage and the national security risks associated with advancements in artificial intelligence.
FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences.”
Recent statements from Justice Department officials have highlighted the potential misuse of AI technologies by foreign adversaries and the need for heightened enforcement measures. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco emphasized the prioritization of AI enforcement by the administration’s multi-agency Disruptive Technology Strike Force, while Wray warned about the susceptibility of emerging technologies to interference with the American political process.
The indictment, unveiled in the Northern District of California, alleges that Ding, employed by Google since 2019 with access to confidential information on the company’s supercomputing data centers, began transferring hundreds of files to a personal Google Cloud account two years ago.
Shortly after the theft commenced, Ding was offered the role of chief technology officer at a Chinese technology company specializing in AI. He also founded a startup in China focused on training large AI models powered by supercomputing chips. Ding failed to disclose these affiliations to Google.
Following his resignation from Google, Ding surfaced as the CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Surveillance footage revealed attempts to mislead Google about his presence at the workplace while he was actually in China.
Linwei Ding, 38, has not yet been represented by legal counsel.
