Ex-Google engineer convicted of stealing AI secrets for startup in China; FBI says: Betrayed both America

A federal jury in San Francisco this week convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, of stealing proprietary artificial intelligence secrets to aid a startup company in China. Ding was found guilty of multiple charges, including theft of trade secrets and economic espionage, after a two-week trial that brought to light the intricate details of his actions. Prosecutors argued that Ding's actions were not only a breach of his employment contract but also a deliberate attempt to undermine U.S. technological leadership. The FBI, which led the investigation, stated that Ding had accessed sensitive information related to Google's AI projects and transferred it to a Chinese company he helped establish. This case highlights the ongoing concerns about the security of American intellectual property and the increasing sophistication of economic espionage tactics. The stolen information was reportedly intended to accelerate the development of AI technologies in China, posing a significant threat to U.S. competitive advantage in the tech industry. Ding's defense team claimed he was merely collaborating with international colleagues and had no intention of causing harm. However, the jury was convinced by evidence demonstrating Ding's calculated efforts to exploit Google's trade secrets for personal and foreign gain. The conviction serves as a stark warning to individuals in the tech sector about the serious repercussions of breaching corporate and national trust. Sentencing is scheduled for December, where Ding faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term.

— Authored by Next24 Live