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A former Google software engineer, Linwei Ding, was convicted of stealing proprietary technology from the tech giant. The verdict, delivered by a 12-person jury in San Francisco, followed an 11-day trial.

Details of the Case Against Linwei Ding

Linwei Ding, who worked on Google’s artificial intelligence supercomputer data system, was found guilty of multiple charges. His counts include:

• Seven counts of trade secrets theft.
• Seven counts of economic espionage.

Ding faces severe penalties if sentenced to prison. He could receive up to 10 years for each trade secret theft and 15 years for economic espionage.

Timeline and Evidence

Ding began his tenure at Google in early 2019 but abruptly resigned in January 2024. He booked a one-way flight to Beijing and was arrested three months later.

During the trial, the prosecution revealed that Ding had stolen over 2,000 pages of confidential information from Google. The theft occurred between 2022 and 2023. He allegedly uploaded these files to his personal Google Cloud account and sought funding for a startup intended to develop an AI supercomputer based on Google’s technology.

Further evidence indicated that Ding applied for a Chinese government-sponsored talent program in Shanghai. In his application, he expressed intentions to help China achieve advanced computing capabilities.

Reactions to the Verdict

The jury’s decision was met with mixed responses. U.S. attorneys and Google representatives praised the verdict, emphasizing the protection of corporate secrets. U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian stated that the verdict was a clear message against technological theft.

Conversely, Ding’s attorney, Grant Fondo, expressed disappointment in the jury’s ruling, underscoring the implications of the case amidst rising tensions between the U.S. and China concerning technology and espionage.

Broader Context of Economic Espionage

This case is part of a growing trend of legal actions against Chinese nationals in the United States, amidst increasing geopolitical strife. Recently, the U.S. attorney’s office has charged two former Apple engineers for similar offenses involving trade secret theft.

As the technology landscape evolves, this case exemplifies the ongoing struggles over intellectual property and national security considerations.