Ex-Google Engineer Convicted for Stealing 2,000 AI Trade Secrets for Chinese Startup
In a landmark case underscoring the escalating concerns over intellectual property theft and economic espionage, former Google engineer Linwei Leon Ding has been convicted by a federal jury on multiple counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) announced the verdict on January 30, 2026, highlighting Ding’s unauthorized acquisition of over 2,000 confidential documents from Google, which he intended to use to benefit a Chinese startup.
Background and Employment at Google
Ding, 38, began his tenure at Google in 2019 as a software engineer. During his employment, he had access to sensitive information related to Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and supercomputing infrastructure. Between May 2022 and April 2023, Ding systematically transferred proprietary data from Google’s internal network to his personal Google Cloud account. This data encompassed critical details about Google’s supercomputing data center infrastructure, including the architecture and functionality of custom Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) chips, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems, and the Cluster Management System (CMS) software used to manage these data centers.
Affiliation with Chinese Tech Companies
While still employed at Google, Ding clandestinely associated himself with two technology companies based in China. In June 2022, he engaged in discussions to become the Chief Technology Officer for an early-stage Chinese tech firm. By early 2023, Ding had founded his own company, Shanghai Zhisuan Technologies Co., where he served as CEO. This startup aimed to develop AI and machine learning technologies, leveraging the stolen trade secrets to gain a competitive edge in the burgeoning AI industry.
Methods of Theft and Concealment
Ding employed sophisticated methods to exfiltrate and conceal the stolen information. He copied data from Google’s source files into the Apple Notes application on his company-issued MacBook, converted these notes into PDF files, and then uploaded them to his personal Google account. To further obfuscate his activities, Ding instructed a fellow Google employee to use his access badge to scan into a Google building, creating the illusion that he was present in the U.S. office while he was actually in China. This subterfuge was intended to mask his unauthorized activities and maintain access to Google’s internal systems.
Discovery and Legal Proceedings
The scheme began to unravel in late 2023 when Google discovered that Ding had delivered a public presentation in China to potential investors about his startup, revealing information that closely mirrored Google’s proprietary technologies. This prompted an internal investigation, leading to the discovery of the data theft. In March 2024, Ding was indicted on charges of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. The indictment detailed his unauthorized transfer of sensitive information and his affiliations with Chinese tech companies.
Government Response and Sentencing
U.S. Attorney Craig H. Missakian emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating, Silicon Valley is at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation, pioneering transformative work that drives economic growth and strengthens our national security. We will vigorously protect American intellectual capital from foreign interests that seek to gain an unfair competitive advantage while putting our national security at risk.
Ding’s conviction includes seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets. Each count of theft of trade secrets carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, while each count of economic espionage carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Ding is scheduled to appear at a status conference on February 3, 2026, where sentencing details will be further discussed.
Broader Implications
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by U.S. companies in safeguarding their intellectual property against foreign economic espionage. The theft of trade secrets not only undermines the competitive advantage of American firms but also poses significant risks to national security. The DoJ’s successful prosecution of Ding serves as a stern warning to individuals and entities contemplating similar illicit activities.
Conclusion
The conviction of Linwei Leon Ding underscores the critical importance of protecting intellectual property in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. As technological advancements continue to drive economic growth and national security, safeguarding proprietary information against unauthorized access and theft remains paramount. This case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences associated with economic espionage and the U.S. government’s commitment to prosecuting such offenses to the fullest extent of the law.
