Ex-Apple worker on secret car project gets prison sentence
Feb 09, 2024 - businessinsider.com
Former Apple engineer, Zhang, who worked on the company's secretive "Project Titan" self-driving car initiative, pleaded guilty to downloading classified files with the intent to sell them to Chinese auto companies. Zhang's suspicious network activity prior to his departure from Apple in 2018 led to an investigation, which revealed he had downloaded confidential items including a hard drive, semiconductor manuals, and engineering schematics of a circuit board. He initially pleaded not guilty but later entered a confidential plea deal with the US government in August 2022.
Zhang has been sentenced to 120 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $146,984. His prison sentence will begin on June 24, 2024. Meanwhile, Apple's "Project Titan" has faced numerous delays and pivots, with the target launch now delayed to 2028. The company has not commented on the matter.
Key takeaways:
Zhang, a former Apple engineer who worked on "Project Titan", was found guilty of downloading classified files with plans to sell them to Chinese auto companies.
Apple initiated an investigation after noticing suspicious network activity from Zhang in the days leading up to his departure from the company.
Zhang now faces a sentence of 120 days in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $146,984. His prison sentence will begin on June 24, 2024.
Apple's "Project Titan" autonomous car effort has faced numerous delays and pivots, with the target launch now delayed to 2028.
