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Ex-Google Engineer Indicted for Stealing AI Secrets to Aid Chinese Companies

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US prosecutors just dropped a 14-count indictment against Linwei Ding, a former Google software engineer, for allegedly stealing critical AI trade secrets to benefit Chinese tech companies bankrolling him. This is no small deal.

What’s at stake: Ding, a Chinese national who joined Google in 2019, allegedly turned in 2022 after being recruited by a Chinese startup. He allegedly stole over 1,000 confidential files related to Google’s AI infrastructure—including chip blueprints that could have reduced Google’s reliance on Nvidia and given rivals like Amazon and Microsoft a strategic advantage in cloud computing.

The charges: Seven counts each of economic espionage and trade secret theft. If convicted on every count, Ding faces up to 15 years per espionage charge ($5M fine each) and 10 years per trade secret charge ($250K fine each). He’s currently free on bond awaiting trial.

Bigger picture: This case is part of the Biden administration’s Disruptive Technology Strike Force—launched in 2023 to prevent advanced tech from reaching adversaries like China and Russia. It reflects the intensifying tech war between the US and China over AI dominance, happening amid Trump’s new tariff offensive (25% on Mexico/Canada, 10% on China).

Google cooperated with law enforcement; the company faces no charges but is dealing with its own antitrust headaches. The real question: How many other engineers are being recruited this way?

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