Chinese Spy Convicted for Attempting to Steal Google Trade Secrets

A Chinese national was apprehended while attempting to pilfer Google’s trade secrets, allegedly in communication with the Chinese government.

The FBI announced the conviction of Linwei Ding, a 38-year-old software engineer at Google, for leveraging technology in service of Chinese interests. This marked their first such case concerning trade secrets related to AI technology.

Ding, also known as Leon Ding, faced a total of fourteen charges: seven for trade secret theft and seven for economic espionage. His indictment originated in March 2024.

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that between May 2022 and April 2023, Ding reportedly stole over 2,000 pages of confidential documents from Google. This included critical information regarding AI models, which he subsequently uploaded to a personal Google Cloud account before downloading it to his own computer.

During this timeframe, he was also collaborating covertly with two Chinese tech firms and was negotiating a position as CTO at another company. Authorities indicated he was gearing up to start his own AI-focused startup, planning to assume the role of CEO early in 2023.

Ding reportedly shared some of his illicit plans with potential investors. He indicated the feasibility of constructing an AI supercomputer by replicating and altering Google’s existing technology. Interestingly, he downloaded sensitive industry data just two weeks before resigning from Google.

The jury concluded that he had stolen information related to both hardware and software critical for training expansive AI models, alongside detailed specifications pertaining to Google’s Tensor Processing Unit chip and graphics processing units.

Roman Rosavsky, deputy director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence and Espionage Bureau, described Ding’s actions as a betrayal of both his employer and the United States. He emphasized the ongoing race for supremacy in AI as a critical context for this case.

This case is considered a landmark for AI-related economic espionage, showcasing the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding American businesses from foreign threats.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John A. Eisenberg, characterized the situation as a calculated betrayal involving advanced AI technology at a pivotal juncture in its development. He pointed out the risks posed to the U.S. technological edge by Ding’s actions.

Ding now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years for each count of trade secret theft and 15 years for each count of economic espionage, totaling over 175 years in prison.