Ding was hired at Google in 2019 and began uploading confidential information into a personal Google Cloud account in 2022. He also allegedly founded his own technology company and worked as the CTO for a Chinese technology company, all while still employed by Google. Ding's activities were discovered in December 2023 when Google detected him trying to upload more files from the company's network to his personal account. After his resignation and subsequent investigation by the FBI, Ding was arrested and charged.
Key takeaways:
- A former Google engineer, Linwei Ding, has been charged with stealing AI technology and over 500 confidential files from Google while secretly working with two China-based companies.
- The Justice Department has stated that it will not tolerate the theft of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that could put national security at risk.
- This case is a part of what American officials describe as a relentless campaign by China to steal U.S. trade secrets, technology, and intellectual property.
- Ding allegedly uploaded the stolen files into his personal Google Cloud account and tried to hide his actions by converting them into PDF files. He is also accused of founding his own technology company that focused on AI and machine learning.