Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets while working with Chinese companies

Items are displayed in the Google Store at the Google Visitor Experience in Mountain View, California, Oct. 11, 2023. (AP/File)
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Updated 07 March 2024
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Ex-Google engineer charged with stealing AI trade secrets while working with Chinese companies

  • Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft
  • Google said it had determined that the employee had stolen “numerous documents” and referred the matter to law enforcement

WASHINGTON: A former software engineer at Google has been charged with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from the company while secretly working with two companies based in China, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Linwei Ding, a Chinese national, was arrested in Newark, California, on four counts of federal trade secret theft, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The case against Ding, 38, was announced at an American Bar Association conference in San Francisco by Attorney General Merrick Garland, who along with other law enforcement leaders has repeatedly warned about the threat of Chinese economic espionage and about the national security concerns posed by advancements in artificial intelligence and other developing technologies.
“Today’s charges are the latest illustration of the lengths affiliates of companies based in the People’s Republic of China are willing to go to steal American innovation,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. “The theft of innovative technology and trade secrets from American companies can cost jobs and have devastating economic and national security consequences.”
Google said it had determined that the employee had stolen “numerous documents” and referred the matter to law enforcement.
“We have strict safeguards to prevent the theft of our confidential commercial information and trade secrets,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said in a statement. “After an investigation, we found that this employee stole numerous documents, and we quickly referred the case to law enforcement. We are grateful to the FBI for helping protect our information and will continue cooperating with them closely.”
A lawyer listed as Ding’s defense attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday evening.
Artificial intelligence is the main battleground for competitors in the field of high technology, and the question of who dominates can have major commercial and security implications. Justice Department leaders in recent weeks have been sounding alarms about how foreign adversaries could harness AI technologies to negatively affect the United States.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a speech last month that the administration’s multi-agency Disruptive Technology Strike Force would place AI at the top of its enforcement priority list, and Wray told a conference last week that AI and other emerging technologies had made it easier for adversaries to try to interfere with the American political process.
Garland echoed those concerns at the San Francisco event, saying Wednesday that, “As with all evolving technologies, (AI) has pluses and minuses, advantages and disadvantages, great promise and the risk of great harm.”
The indictment unsealed Wednesday in the Northern District of California alleges that Ding, who was hired by Google in 2019 and had access to confidential information about the company’s supercomputing data centers, began uploading hundreds of files into a personal Google Cloud account two years ago.
Within weeks of the theft starting, prosecutors say, Ding was offered the position of chief technology officer at an early-stage technology company in China that touted its use of AI technology and that offered him a monthly salary of about $14,800, plus an annual bonus and company stock. The indictment says Ding traveled to China and participated in investor meetings at the company and sought to raise capital for it.
He also separately founded and served as chief executive of a China-based startup company that aspired to train “large AI models powered by supercomputing chips,” the indictment said.
Prosecutors say Ding did not disclose either affiliation to Google, which described him Wednesday as a junior employee.
He resigned from Google last Dec. 26.
Three days later, Google officials learned that he had presented as CEO of one of the Chinese companies at an investor conference in Beijing. Officials also reviewed surveillance footage showing that another employee had scanned Ding’s access badge at the Google building in the US where he worked to make it look like Ding was there during times when he was actually in China, the indictment says.
Google suspended Ding’s network access and locked his laptop, and discovered his unauthorized uploads while searching his network activity history.
The FBI in January served a search warrant at Ding’s home and seized his electronic devices, and later executed an additional warrant for the contents of his personal accounts containing more than 500 unique files of confidential information that authorities say he stole from Google.


Bangladesh aims to hold December polls in first vote since Hasina ouster

Updated 1 min 6 sec ago
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Bangladesh aims to hold December polls in first vote since Hasina ouster

  • Chief of Bangladesh’s interim administration earlier said reforms must take place before election
  • Special commission report accused Hasina of rigging previous polls in Bangladesh

DHAKA: Bangladesh is preparing to hold elections in December, the first general vote since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the former longtime prime minister, Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Mohammad Sanaullah said on Tuesday.

The country’s interim government, headed by Nobel prize laureate Prof. Muhammad Yunus, has been implementing a series of reforms and preparing for elections since taking charge in August, after Hasina fled Dhaka amid student-led protests that called for her resignation.

In November, the transitional authorities appointed a new five-member election commission, which held a meeting with foreign envoys on Tuesday to present its plans for the upcoming polls.

“We have told them that we must make preparations based on the earliest possible date for the election. Our position remains unchanged. We are preparing with December in mind,” Sanaullah told journalists after the meeting.

“The national election is currently the Election Commission’s priority.”

Yunus previously said that Bangladesh could hold elections by the end of 2025 or in the first half of 2026, provided that electoral reforms take place first.

This includes having the Election Commission prepare a new voter list, a process expected to take months.

Following 15 years of uninterrupted rule, Hasina and her Awami League party had allegedly politicized key government institutions, including the Election Commission.

In a report submitted to the interim government last week, a special commission on electoral reforms said that Hasina was responsible for rigging the last three national polls in Bangladesh, as it proposed more than 200 recommendations to improve the country’s voting system.

“In 2014, 2018 and 2024, we witnessed three general elections where the big takeaway was that these were not participatory. There were big questions regarding the quality of these elections due to the absence of the opposition,” Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, chairman of the National Election Monitoring Council, told Arab News.

“I think the election should be organized within the shortest possible time considering the ongoing law and order, and political scenario of the country … if there is goodwill and good intentions from the authorities, nothing is impossible.”


‘A Dream Come True’: Elisa Longo Borghini and UAE Team ADQ make history at the women’s tour

Updated 3 min 4 sec ago
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‘A Dream Come True’: Elisa Longo Borghini and UAE Team ADQ make history at the women’s tour

  • Third edition of UAE Tour Women, the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour race, signals rapid growth of women’s professional cycling

“A dream come true.”

Those were the words of an elated Melissa Moncada, head of team at UAE Team ADQ, after her squad made history on Sunday by securing the overall win at their home race. The UAE Tour Women, part of the Women’s WorldTour — the highest tier of women’s cycling — has been a key target for the team since the race’s first edition in 2023.

Along with team classification, Italian star Elisa Longo Borghini claimed the prestigious general classification red jersey for UAE Team ADQ, with teammate Silvia Persico securing second in the GC. Karlijn Swinkels placed fifth overall, while Lara Gillespie claimed the black jersey in the Intermediate Sprints Classification — a remarkable achievement on her Women’s WorldTour debut after being called up from the UAE squad’s development team. Teammates Elynor Backstedt and sprinter Sofie van Rooijen, who bounced back from a crash on stage one, provided crucial support throughout the four days of racing. 

Longo Borghini’s decisive attack on Jebel Hafeet on Stage 3 proved to be the turning point. With Persico setting a relentless pace, Longo Borghini launched a perfectly timed attack 3 km from the finish line, securing a dominant victory and virtually sealing the overall title. Following Longo Borghini was Persico in second place. The team’s overall triumph was sealed on the final Stage 4 on Sunday, despite Lorena Wiebes of SD Worx-Protime dominating the sprint finishes, winning three of the four stages.

 

A pivotal moment

Speaking to Arab News at the end of the tour about the crucial moment in the race, Moncada praised the entire team’s effort, particularly the dynamic between Longo Borghini and Persico on Stage 3.

“Persico really is an athlete that can defend and fight for the victory of the leader,” said Moncada. “Even though she brought Elisa to the amazing position that she was in, she fought to the end and arrived in second position. It’s like they almost crossed the line together, so it was amazing.”

For Persico, who has known Longo Borghini for years but had never raced alongside her until now, the partnership felt instinctive.

“It really seemed that we were always racing together. We just understand each other really well,” said Persico. 

“I just started to work at the bottom of the climb and I was just pacing a bit hard. I wanted to drop as many girls as possible. And then when Elisa attacked, in my mind I was ‘okay, job finished, I can rest.’ But then I saw that I was feeling pretty good — a bit tired, yes, of course. And I said, ‘okay, I’ll try to do my best for the achievement, so maybe second place.’ And yeah, I didn’t give up and, in the end, I finished second.”

 

Reflections on a team victory 

At the team presentations at the Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy on Sunday morning, ahead of the final day of racing, Longo Borghini — who won the race’s inaugural edition in 2023 and counts the 2024 Giro d’Italia Women and Tour of Flanders among her many victories — reflected on her Stage 3 win.

“The race was very spectacular,” she said, acknowledging the crucial role her team played. “Everyone was really committed to trying to win the stage and take the overall, and then you saw how the team was racing — it was pretty incredible.”

Following the conclusion of the race, with UAE Team ADQ securing first and second in the GC, the sprinter classification, and the team classification, Longo Borghini emphasized the unity that led to their dominant performance.

“It feels quite amazing,” she said. “From the very beginning of the season, the team pointed out that they wanted us to perform well here in the UAE. And of course, we came here for GC, but in the end, we are walking away with first and second on GC, the sprinter classification, and the team classification. And the one I’m the most proud of is the team classification because it shows how strong we were throughout these four days. And it’s really been a team victory.”

Longo Borghini, in the first year of a three-year contract with UAE Team ADQ, has firmly established herself as a cornerstone of the team’s ambitions and according to both management and riders, the team is unified and riding as one.

“You can see the unity there. It’s not forced,” said Cherie Pridham, UAE Team ADQ’s head of sport. “It’s been actually one of my best weeks on a cycling team. To do that with these girls has been amazing. To have a leader like Elisa Longo Borghini with us, she just raises the bar and raises everybody’s expectations — and ours as well, the staff — it’s incredible.”

 

The rise of women’s cycling

This UAE Tour Women was not only a historic moment for UAE Team ADQ but also for women’s professional cycling. With crosswind conditions setting the scene, the UAE Tour Women set a record for the fastest-ever average speed in a Women’s WorldTour race on Day 2, with an average speed of 48.407 km/h over the 111 km Al-Mirfa Sprint Stage. The leading group of five riders — including Longo Borghini, Lorena Wiebes, Lara Gillespie, Karlijn Swinkels, and Human Powered Health’s Lily Williams — broke away early and held off the peloton. 

Pridham, a trailblazer as the first woman to hold a sport director role on a men’s WorldTour team — a role she held prior to joining UAE Team ADQ — emphasized to Arab News at the conclusion of the race the significance of the race and the team’s victory, highlighting the rapid evolution and growing professionalism of women’s cycling, and in particular, UAE Team ADQ.

“I mean, we knew we were capable of it, and the work that we’ve all done in the background — the management continuously growing the team — it’s just incredible,” she said. “I’m lost for words. And I’m delighted for Melissa and the team, the management, and everyone that’s put so much work and belief into this. The way the girls rode yesterday is just astounding.

“It’s history. It really is,” she added. “To see the sport grow — from where I was 25 years ago to how quickly it has evolved in just the last three years — it’s unbelievable. And the way we operate at UAE Team ADQ is on par, I would say sometimes even better, than our men’s team. I put myself on the line saying this, but women’s cycling is definitely on the up, and it’s incredible to be part of the growth.”

The race’s growing stature has not gone unnoticed by other teams. Oskar Scarsbrook, director of communications at Human Powered Health — a US-based team that elevated its women’s squad to WorldTour status before its men’s team — praised the event’s prominence on the racing calendar.

“It’s only been going on for three years, but it already feels like a statement piece on the WorldTour calendar. It’s like, ‘yeah, of course you’re going to UAE in February for the UAE Tour.’ It already feels like it has pride of place at the start of the year purely because of how good the racing has been.”

One key factor contributing to the race’s growing prestige is its comprehensive TV coverage, showcasing the intensity of competition from start to finish.

“TV coverage is the biggest thing with that,” he added. “We’ve been lucky here because we’ve had it from kilometer one, which is massive. The crosswind stage on day two? The racing was quite literally from kilometer zero. In previous years, you would have joined with 40 minutes to go, and it would be like, ‘okay, right, this is what happened.’ And you’d have missed all the exciting stuff that set up what came later.” 

With the thrilling racing of the UAE Tour Women concluded, and the season just beginning, Longo Borghini and UAE Team ADQ have set the bar high. 

“I’m very proud of every single teammate who made this possible,” she said. “And I hope this is just the beginning.”

 

Dawn Barnable is the founder and host of “The Mettleset Podcast,” a platform dedicated to women in sport from across the region


Saudia adds 11 new global destinations

Updated 21 min 59 sec ago
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Saudia adds 11 new global destinations

JEDDAH: Saudia airline is adding 11 new destinations to its network this year — including Vienna, Bali, and El-Alamein — as part of its global expansion strategy, the company announced. 

The new routes also include Venice in Italy, Larnaca in Cyprus, and the Greek destinations of  Athens and Heraklion.

Nice in France and Malaga in Spain have also been added to the list.

The expansion follows a 16 percent rise in international passenger numbers last year, with the newly added destinations offering travelers more options across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, further strengthening Saudia’s position in the aviation industry. 

The move aligns with Saudi Arabia’s National Tourism Strategy, which aims to attract 150 million tourists by 2030, create 1.6 million jobs, and boost tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product. 

Ibrahim Al-Omar, director general of Saudia Group, said: “Following last year’s operational success, we've implemented a strategic plan for 2025 to ensure continued excellence and meet rising international travel demand.”  

He added: “Our destination selection is based on comprehensive feasibility studies and guest preferences. We are committed to providing our international guests with exceptional travel experiences that combine comfort, efficiency, and authentic Saudi hospitality.” 

Also joining the network are Antalya in Turkiye, Salalah in Oman, and Bali in Indonesia, expanding Saudia’s reach to over 100 destinations across four continents. 

By growing its global network, Saudia is supporting the Air Connectivity Program, which has introduced over 60 new direct routes since its launch in 2021. 

This development strengthens the Kingdom’s position as a key travel hub under Vision 2030 and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s aviation strategy, which includes multi-billion-dollar investments to diversify the economy and support the private sector. 

Saudia said the expansion is supported by its fleet of 147 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, with plans to receive 118 new aircraft in the coming years to further enhance operational capacity. 

With more than 530 daily flights, Saudia’s ongoing international development plan aims to increase its global market share and strengthen connectivity between the Kingdom and the world. 


Egypt’s inflation eases slightly in January, driven by lower vegetable prices

Updated 23 min 35 sec ago
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Egypt’s inflation eases slightly in January, driven by lower vegetable prices

RIYADH: Egypt’s headline consumer price index recorded 243.5 points in January, reflecting an annual inflation rate of 23.2 percent, down slightly from 23.4 percent in December, according to official data.

Figures from the nation’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics show that Egypt’s inflation slowdown was primarily driven by a 2.6 percent decline in vegetable prices from December to January, alongside a 0.3 percent decrease in fish and seafood prices.

Meanwhile, costs remained stable across key sectors such as education, health services, and telecommunications.

However, according to the report, some essential commodities saw notable price hikes. Bread and cereal prices rose 1.3 percent, while meat and poultry prices surged 5.0 percent.

Dairy, cheese, and eggs recorded a modest increase of 0.3 percent, and oils and fats edged up by 0.7 percent. 

The sharpest price spike was in fruits, which jumped by 9.8 percent. These price increases were key contributors to the 1.6 percent monthly inflation in January, compared to a flat reading in December.

Other sectors also experienced price increases. Personal care products rose by 1.5 percent, hospital services by 1.4 percent and furnishings and household appliances by 0.6 percent, as well as electricity, gas, and fuel by 0.1 percent, and hotel services by 3.3 percent.

Compared to January, several categories recorded substantial annual increases, the report showed.

Food and beverages rose by 20.2 percent, tobacco and alcoholic drinks by 29.5 percent, housing, utilities, and fuel by 18.7 percent, healthcare services by 40.5 percent, and transport by 33.6 percent, while education costs remained unchanged.

The steepest annual jumps were seen in postal services, which were up 94.3 percent, cultural and recreational services by 48 percent, and transport services by 39 percent.

Despite a slight moderation in annual inflation, elevated food and transport costs remain a key challenge for Egyptian households and businesses.

The rising prices of essential goods, including staples such as wheat and cooking oil, continue to strain consumer purchasing power.

Analysts expect inflationary pressures to persist in the near term, driven by a combination of currency fluctuations, global commodity price trends, and domestic supply chain constraints.

The Egyptian pound has witnessed notable depreciation, contributing to the higher cost of imports, particularly for food and energy.

In response, the Egyptian government has introduced measures such as subsidies and price controls on essential goods to contain inflation and support vulnerable segments of the population.

Efforts include increasing government-backed distribution of basic commodities and negotiating import deals to secure food supplies at stable prices.

However, structural economic reforms, including subsidy cuts and fiscal consolidation efforts under Egypt’s broader economic program, may counterbalance these interventions.

With ongoing economic reforms and external pressures, inflation trends will remain a closely monitored factor in Egypt’s economic trajectory.

Policymakers are likely to adjust monetary and fiscal measures as needed to balance growth with price stability, particularly as the country navigates global economic uncertainties and financing challenges.

The central bank’s stance on interest rates will also play a crucial role in managing inflation expectations in the coming months.


African Union: Sudan war is world’s ‘worst humanitarian crisis’

Updated 28 min 44 sec ago
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African Union: Sudan war is world’s ‘worst humanitarian crisis’

  • The Sudanese army has been at war since April 2023 with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces
  • The Sudanese army controls the east and north of the country while RSF holds most of Darfur region

ADDIS ABABA: African Union officials on Tuesday branded Sudan’s civil war the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world” and warned it was leaving hundreds of thousands of children malnourished.
The Sudanese army has been at war since April 2023 with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in a conflict that has displaced around 12 million people, according to the AU and the International Rescue Committee.
It “has hampered access to humanitarian relief, led to shortage of food and aggravated hunger,” Mohamed Ibn Chambas, chairman of an AU panel on Sudan, said Tuesday on X.
“Children and women are continually abused, and the elderly and sick lack medical assistance,” he added.
“This is the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”
A senior AU official for child welfare, Wilson Almeida Adao, said in a separate X post that hospital admissions for malnutrition rose by 44 percent in 2024, with over 431,000 children receiving treatment.
“We witness reports of grave violations, including attacks on schools and hospitals, forced recruitment of child soldiers, and the denial of humanitarian access,” he said.
The Sudanese army controls the east and north of the country while the RSF holds most of the stricken Darfur region, where the United Nations on Monday accused it of blocking aid.
For the AU, “only inter-Sudanese political dialogue, not the military option, can end this war,” said Chambas.