A former Google engineer is facing serious accusations from the US Justice Department for allegedly stealing sensitive technology to bolster China’s artificial intelligence capabilities. Linwei Ding, a Chinese software developer who worked for Google under the name Leon Ding, has been charged with seven counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets.
The latest indictment, announced on Tuesday, claims Ding took proprietary technology related to Google’s AI training chips, such as those used for its Gemini model. He was initially indicted in March and pleaded not guilty at the time. If convicted, Ding could face up to 15 years in prison for each espionage charge and an additional 10 years per count of trade secret theft.
Allegations of secret dealings and hidden motives
According to US authorities, Ding joined Google in 2019 and was allegedly involved in covertly stealing information related to Alphabet Inc.’s AI projects and chip technology. He reportedly founded a startup in China in 2023 and applied to a government-backed talent program in Shanghai. These initiatives encourage overseas experts to return to China and provide financial incentives for transferring technical knowledge.
The indictment accuses Ding of keeping his startup a secret from Google. He is also alleged to have asked a colleague to scan his office badge to create the illusion he was working on-site while managing his own company. Ding resigned from Google on December 26, 2023, and allegedly booked a one-way flight to China soon after. Prosecutors believe his startup planned to offer AI infrastructure services to Chinese universities and state agencies.
Growing tensions over tech espionage
Ding’s case has fueled ongoing concerns about technological espionage between the US and China. During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump vowed to crack down on such activities, emphasizing the protection of critical technologies from foreign interference. The case against Ding follows another high-profile incident last week in which a former Federal Reserve adviser was charged with conspiring to leak sensitive information to benefit China.
The US government alleges that Ding’s actions were intended to help China develop AI infrastructure at a level comparable to global standards. His indictment outlines how his startup’s internal documents described this goal.
The legal proceedings, filed under case number USA v. Ding, are being handled in the US District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco. Ding could face significant prison time if proven guilty, underscoring the growing tension in the tech rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.
