A Chinese national was arrested Wednesday in California and charged with allegedly stealing confidential trade secrets from Google’s Artificial Intelligence program while secretly working for two AI startup companies based in China, according to a newly unsealed indictment.
Linwei Ding, a 38-year-old resident of Newark, joined Google as a software engineer in 2019 and was tasked with developing the software used by the tech giant in their supercomputing data centers, according to court records.
But prosecutors say three years into the job, he allegedly began secretly stealing confidential trade secrets — including “the building blocks” of the company’s data centers that were used for training AI models to understand language and generate responses to queries, court records show.
Over a roughly year-long span, Ding is alleged to have uploaded more than 500 files with confidential information, all while prosecutors allege he was secretly starting to work for two China-based AI tech startups — including one he founded himself.
Ding allegedly traveled to China on two separate instances — October 2022 and November 2023 — to participate in business meetings and even attend a conference where he pitched his company to prospective investors, according to court records.
According to one document obtained by prosecutors, Ding advertised his company’s services by specifically citing his experience with Google’s supercomputer platform.
“We just need to replicate and upgrade it — and then further develop a computational power platform suited to China’s national conditions,” the document said, court records show.
Ding is also alleged to have taken specific steps to avoid being caught by Google, including copying secret files into his Google Cloud by first copying them into his Apple Notes application and then converting them to PDFs, according to court documents.
Google headquarters is seen in Mountain View, CA, Sep. 26, 2022.
Tayfun Coskun/Getty Images
In December 2023, Google was alerted to him uploading some files and he was confronted by an internal investigator, court documents show. Ding allegedly told the investigator he uploaded it as evidence of the work he was doing but that he had no intention of leaving the company.
That same week, Ding allegedly had a fellow employee scan his Google access badge at the building three separate times to make it appear as if he was there, prosecutors claim, and soon after booked a one-way ticket to Beijing. He then emailed his resignation to his manager, according to court records, and the company soon after learned of his presentation at the investor conference. The FBI was alerted and secured warrants to search Ding’s house and Google Cloud account.
Ding was taken into custody Wednesday morning and faces four federal counts of theft of trade secrets. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison for each count. He did not have an attorney listed on his court docket as of Wednesday afternoon.
A Chinese national has been arrested in the United States for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to artificial intelligence (AI) from tech giant Google. This incident highlights the growing concerns surrounding intellectual property theft and the potential risks posed by foreign actors.
The suspect, identified as Jinghua Zhang, was taken into custody by the FBI after being accused of attempting to steal valuable AI technology from Google. According to court documents, Zhang was a former software engineer at the company and had access to sensitive information related to AI research and development.
The case raises questions about the security measures in place to protect valuable intellectual property within tech companies, especially as AI continues to play a crucial role in driving innovation and competitiveness in the industry. With the rapid advancements in AI technology, the stakes are higher than ever for companies to safeguard their trade secrets and prevent unauthorized access.
This incident also sheds light on the broader issue of intellectual property theft by foreign actors, particularly those with ties to foreign governments or entities. The theft of trade secrets can have serious consequences for companies, including loss of competitive advantage, financial harm, and damage to reputation.
In response to the growing threat of intellectual property theft, companies are increasingly investing in cybersecurity measures and implementing stricter protocols to protect their valuable assets. Additionally, government agencies are stepping up efforts to combat economic espionage and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.
The arrest of Jinghua Zhang serves as a reminder of the importance of safeguarding intellectual property and the need for increased vigilance in protecting sensitive information from unauthorized access. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for companies to stay ahead of potential threats and take proactive steps to secure their trade secrets.
