A federal jury in San Francisco has found Linwei Ding, a former Google software engineer, guilty on multiple counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets.Ding, also known as Leon Ding, was convicted on seven counts of each charge after an 11-day trial that concluded on Thursday.
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justice.govcnbc.comProsecutors argued that Ding, 38, stole thousands of pages of confidential information from Google, specifically related to its artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to benefit the People's Republic of China (PRC).This case marks the first-ever conviction on AI-related economic espionage charges in the US, according to the Department of Justice.
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cnbc.comfoxbusiness.comAssistant Attorney General for National Security John A.Eisenberg emphasized the severity of the breach, stating that it poses a risk to US technological leadership and competitiveness."Ding abused his privileged access to steal AI trade secrets while pursuing PRC government-aligned ventures," Eisenberg said.
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justice.govDuring the trial, evidence showed that between May 2022 and April 2023, Ding uploaded more than 2,000 pages of Google's AI trade secrets to his personal Google Cloud account.The stolen information included detailed descriptions of Google's proprietary hardware and software systems, which facilitate the training and deployment of advanced AI models.
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cnbc.comcbsnews.comDing was employed by Google since 2019 and had been involved in the company's supercomputing data centers.He had also secretly affiliated himself with two technology companies based in China while still employed by Google.Prosecutors revealed that Ding was in discussions to become the Chief Technology Officer for one company and was in the process of founding his own AI-focused enterprise in China.
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foxbusiness.comnbcbayarea.comThe trial unveiled that Ding misled potential investors by claiming he could replicate Google's AI technology.He even applied for a government-sponsored "talent plan" in Shanghai, which aimed to attract talent for China's technological development.
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justice.govcbsnews.comUS Attorney Craig H.Missakian stated, "The jury delivered a clear message today that the theft of this valuable technology will not go unpunished." This sentiment was echoed by FBI officials, who underscored the importance of safeguarding American innovation against foreign threats.
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justice.govfoxbusiness.comDing's defense attorney argued that Google failed to protect its information adequately, claiming the documents were accessible to thousands of employees and therefore could not be classified as trade secrets.However, the jury ultimately sided with the prosecution.
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cnbc.comfoxbusiness.comThe conviction carries significant implications for Ding, who faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count of theft of trade secrets and 15 years for each count of economic espionage.
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cnbc.comcbsnews.comDing is scheduled to appear for a status conference on February 3, 2026, as the legal proceedings continue.
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justice.govnbcbayarea.comThis case highlights the ongoing tensions in the tech industry regarding intellectual property and national security, particularly in the context of US-China relations.As the race for AI dominance escalates, incidents like Ding's conviction serve as a reminder of the vulnerabilities within corporate structures and the critical need for robust protections against espionage.
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foxbusiness.comcbsnews.comThe jury's decision is seen as a significant step in enforcing laws designed to protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of US technological advancements.
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cnbc.comcbsnews.comDing's case is emblematic of broader issues concerning economic espionage and the importance of safeguarding trade secrets within the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.
