Reports indicate that Linwei Ding, a former software engineer at Google, also known as Leon Ding, faces charges in the US for allegedly pilfering trade secrets concerning AI during his tenure. Ding purportedly worked covertly for two Chinese firms.

In California, charges have been filed against Linwei Ding, alleging that he stole more than 500 confidential files, posing a potential risk to Google's supercomputing data centres. Ding, a Chinese national, joined Google in 2019 and was tasked with developing AI software.

The indictment alleges that he commenced uploading information from Google's network to his personal Google account in May 2022, continuing these unauthorised uploads periodically for a year.

During this period, he spent several months working for Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology, a start-up tech company in China and established his own AI-focused tech firm, Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, where he served as the CEO.

The indictment exposes that Ding failed to disclose his affiliations with the Chinese companies to Google, thus violating the company's policies. He applied to a China-based organisation to support his business and presented it at an investor conference in China in November 2023. Google grew suspicious when Ding attempted to upload more files while in China, claiming it was to provide proof of his work for the tech giant.

Upon his return to the US, Ding resigned from Google, and the company, unaware of his activities, suspended his access. Google later discovered the unauthorised uploads, prompting them to alert the authorities.

According to the BBC, José Castañeda, a spokesperson for Google, assured that the company has "strict safeguards" in place to prevent the theft of confidential information and trade secrets.

Google reported the alleged wrongdoing to the authorities. US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasised Ding's actions aimed at enriching himself. FBI Director Christopher Wray stated that the case illustrates Chinese companies' lengths to steal American innovation.

The Justice Department announced the charges against Ding, highlighting the severity of Chinese economic espionage and national security concerns tied to AI advancements.

Google confirmed that Ding had stolen numerous documents, prompting the referral of the case to law enforcement. The case highlights the intense competition in high technology, with artificial intelligence playing a crucial role.

Concerns about foreign adversaries potentially using AI technologies to harm the United States have grown, leading the Justice Department to prioritize AI enforcement.

Image source: Reuters