A federal jury in the United States has convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding in a high-profile industrial espionage case involving the theft of sensitive artificial intelligence (AI) trade secrets. Prosecutors said Ding unlawfully obtained confidential Google data and used it to benefit two Chinese technology companies.
According to the US Department of Justice, the 38-year-old was found guilty on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets. The verdict was delivered after an 11-day jury trial in federal court.
Ding now faces a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $5 million on each economic espionage count. Each trade secret theft charge carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The sentencing phase is yet to be scheduled.
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Thousands of pages of confidential data stolen
Federal prosecutors told the court that Ding unlawfully copied thousands of pages of highly sensitive information related to Google’s proprietary hardware and software systems. These systems are used in the company’s large-scale supercomputing data centres to train advanced AI models.
The stolen material allegedly included chip architecture designs and infrastructure blueprints, which Google developed to strengthen its competitive edge in cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The technologies were designed to rival platforms operated by competitors such as Amazon and Microsoft, while also reducing reliance on external chip suppliers like Nvidia.
Investigators said the data formed a critical part of Google’s long-term strategy to build in-house AI computing capabilities.
Employment at Google and secret overseas links
Court records show that Ding joined Google in May 2019 as a software engineer working on key AI-related projects. Prosecutors said that around three years later, he began secretly engaging with a China-based technology start-up, while still employed at Google.
During this period, Ding allegedly transferred confidential data from Google’s internal systems without authorisation. Evidence presented at trial suggested that he was covertly working for two Chinese companies while maintaining access to sensitive Google projects.
Ding was initially charged with four criminal counts in March 2024. A superseding indictment filed in February 2025 expanded the case, adding further charges and detailing the scale of the alleged data theft.
National security implications
The Justice Department said the case was handled under the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an inter-agency initiative launched in 2023 to combat the theft of sensitive technologies and foreign interference in critical sectors.
Prosecutors argued that the matter went beyond corporate wrongdoing and posed a direct threat to US national security, given the strategic importance of AI, semiconductor design and high-performance computing in future defence and economic applications.
Officials stressed that advanced AI infrastructure is considered a cornerstone of technological leadership and global competitiveness.
Next court hearing in February
Ding is scheduled to appear in court on February 3 for a status conference, during which the timeline for sentencing and further legal proceedings is expected to be discussed. His lawyer, also known as Leon Ding, declined to comment immediately following the verdict.
Google is not accused of any wrongdoing in the case. The company had earlier stated that it fully cooperated with investigators throughout the probe. No fresh statement was issued by Google after the jury’s decision.
Strong signal to global tech workforce
Legal experts say the conviction sends a strong warning to engineers and researchers working in the global technology sector. As geopolitical tensions rise and competition over AI and semiconductor dominance intensifies, US authorities are increasingly treating technology theft cases with heightened severity.
The ruling is being closely watched amid the broader strategic rivalry between the United States and China over control of next-generation technologies, including artificial intelligence, advanced chips and supercomputing infrastructure.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
