Chinese engineer arrested for stealing AI tech from Google

A Chinese software engineer has been arrested for allegedly stealing AI technology from Google while covertly employed by two Chinese companies

Linwei Ding, 38, also known as Leon Ding, faces four counts of theft of trade secrets, Garland said in a statement.

Ding, who was arrested Wednesday in Newark, California, allegedly transferred confidential information from Google’s network to his account while secretly affiliated with Chinese-based companies in the artificial intelligence industry.

“The Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that could put our national security at risk,” Garland said.

“We will fiercely protect sensitive technologies developed in America from falling into the hands of those who should not have them.”

Ding’s arrest illustrates “the lengths affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation,” FBI director Christopher Wray said, referring to China by its official name.

He added, “The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences.”

According to the indictment, Google hired Ding in 2019 and was involved in developing the software deployed in Google’s supercomputing data centers.

Source: AFP

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