February 2, 2026
Former Google engineer Linwei Ding convicted of stealing AI secrets for China
Jury finds Ding guilty on 14 counts in first AI-related economic espionage conviction in U.S. history
Google engineer Linwei Ding arrested February 5, 2026 for allegedly stealing AI trade secrets. The 38-year-old software engineer was charged with economic espionage and theft of trade secrets related to Google AI technology and research.
Ding allegedly transferred 500+ files containing AI chip architecture and supercomputing data to Chinese company. The stolen information included details about Google tensor processing units and AI supercomputing infrastructure used for training large language models.
FBI affidavit revealed Ding had been communicating with Chinese company since May 2025. The communications included discussions about employment opportunities and potential collaboration on AI development projects in China.
Ding faced up to 10 years in prison and $250,000 fine if convicted on all charges. The economic espionage charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, while the trade secrets theft charge carries up to 10 years.
The arrest came amid broader U.S. concerns about Chinese economic espionage targeting AI technology. Federal officials warned that China was actively recruiting U.S. tech workers and researchers to obtain sensitive AI and semiconductor technology.
Google cooperated with investigation and implemented enhanced security measures. The technology company worked with federal authorities to identify the stolen information and strengthen internal security protocols to prevent future incidents.
The case highlighted vulnerabilities in U.S. technology companies to insider threats. The incident raised concerns about how easily employees with access to sensitive information could steal trade secrets and intellectual property.
The arrest was part of increased federal efforts to combat Chinese economic espionage. The Department of Justice and FBI had intensified investigations into Chinese attempts to obtain U.S. technology and trade secrets through various means.
The case raised questions about the appropriate balance between international collaboration and protecting sensitive technology. While global AI research requires some information sharing, the case highlighted the risks of intellectual property theft.
People, bills, and sources
Linwei Ding
Former Google software engineer
Pam Bondi
Attorney General
Kash Patel
FBI Director
Kent Walker
Google President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer
Craig H. Missakian
U.S. Attorney, Northern District of California
What you can do
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civic action
Support cybersecurity organizations protecting intellectual property
Donate to or volunteer with organizations that help companies protect intellectual property and combat economic espionage. These groups provide security assessments, training, and advocacy for stronger protections against foreign espionage.
infragard@fbi.gov
My name is [Name] and I am calling to support InfraGard work protecting intellectual property from economic espionage. With the Google engineer case, I want to help fund cybersecurity protections and counter-espionage efforts.
2
civic action
Contact your representatives about economic espionage and technology protection
Urge your representatives to support stronger laws and enforcement against economic espionage targeting U.S. technology. Ask them to support increased funding for counter-espionage efforts and protection of American innovation.
find your representative at congress.gov
My name is [Name] and I am calling about economic espionage and technology protection. I urge the representative to support stronger laws against Chinese espionage targeting U.S. technology and increased funding for counter-espionage efforts.
3
understanding
Learn about economic espionage and cybersecurity threats
Study economic espionage tactics and cybersecurity threats to understand how to protect sensitive information and intellectual property. Understanding these threats helps you recognize and report suspicious activities.
info@cisa.gov
I am calling to learn about economic espionage and cybersecurity threats. With the Google engineer case, I want to understand how to protect sensitive information and intellectual property from foreign espionage.