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Ex-Google Engineer Convicted of Stealing Google’s AI Secrets For China

Linwei Ding, a former software engineer at Google, has been convicted by a federal jury on charges of economic espionage and trade secret theft. The conviction involves Ding's unauthorized acquisition of confidential Google documentation related to…

SBy Sean AveryJan 31, 20262 min read

Linwei Ding, a former software engineer at Google, has been convicted by a federal jury on charges of economic espionage and trade secret theft. The conviction involves Ding's unauthorized acquisition of confidential Google documentation related to artificial intelligence, intended to benefit the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The verdict was delivered after an 11-day trial under U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. Ding was found guilty of seven counts of economic espionage under 18 U.S.C. § 1831 and seven counts of theft of trade secrets under 18 U.S.C. § 1832. The penalties include a maximum sentence of 15 years for each economic espionage count and up to 10 years for each trade secret theft count.

Between May 2022 and April 2023, Ding accessed Google's network to exfiltrate documentation detailing its advanced AI infrastructure. This data was uploaded to a personal Google Cloud account under his control. In December 2023, Ding transferred the stolen trade secrets to his personal computer.

While employed at Google, Ding had undisclosed affiliations with technology entities based in the PRC. In June 2022, he discussed a role as Chief Technology Officer for a PRC technology startup. By early 2023, Ding was founding his own AI and machine learning startup in the PRC, where he served as CEO. He reportedly referenced Google's proprietary technology in investor presentations.

Linwei Ding, a former software engineer at Google, has been convicted by a federal jury on charges of economic espionage and trade secret theft.
Sean Avery · Thehackingpost

In late 2023, Ding applied for a Shanghai government-sponsored talent recruitment program, expressing his goal to enhance China's computing capabilities to international standards.

The stolen materials covered critical AI infrastructure, including hardware, software platforms, custom chip designs, and high-speed communication systems. U.S. prosecutors highlighted the potential threat to American technological competitiveness and national security posed by this unauthorized transfer of information.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian emphasized the government's commitment to safeguarding Silicon Valley's intellectual property from foreign espionage.

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Ding is scheduled for a status conference on February 3, 2026, with sentencing to follow in accordance with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Based on reporting by Cyber Security News.

AI transparency. This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and published under human editorial oversight. AI systems can make mistakes. Read how we use AI (EU AI Act, Art. 50).
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