Former Google Engineer Was Caught and Arrested for stealing AI Confidential Files From Google
A former Software engineer of Google was arrested on Wednesday, for stealing the trade secrets about AI secretly for two Chinese companies.
Linwei Ding, a 38-year-old Chinese national was arrested in California and is charged with stealing around 500 confidential files including “building blocks” of Google’s AI infrastructure, for the Chinese companies. He uploaded these files to his personal accounts over a period of one year from May 2022 to May 2023.
Ding joined Google in 2019 and is accused of uploading files from his office-issued laptop to his personal storage. If he is found convicted then he can be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and for a fine of up to $250,000 for each.
“We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” said Google spokesperson José Castañeda.
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“After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely,” he added.
As per the sources he has also been alleged to start his own tech company Shanghai Zhisuan Technology. This startup is mainly focused on AI and Machine Learning. Also, he worked for a China-based startup company Beijing Rongshu Lianzhi Technology, for several months. As per the Prosecutors, Ding never told Goggle about his work with the Chinese companies.
Later on, Google noticed more about his specious activities when he flew to Beijing And was announced as the CEO of one of the Chinese companies only after three days of resigning from Google. After checking the Surveillance footage, it was found that some other employees were being scanned in Ding’s access batch. A false appearance of him was created in the Google building while actually he was in China at that time.
As of now Google’s engineer was arrested but the legal representations are still unclear.
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Concerns related to AI:
FBI Director Christopher Wray stated -“Today’s charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation.” These types of thefts can create serious economic and technological issues in the society. Also, this can lead to major jobless situations as China is trying to steal the latest innovation of America.
“The Justice Department will not tolerate the theft of artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies that could put our national security at risk,” Mr Garland said.
However, a Google engineer was arrested and a proper investigation is going on. If he is found guilty he has to face serious consequences of that.
