US sanctions five Chinese firms linked to ex-Google engineer

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 23:32 · Archive

The US has sanctioned five Chinese companies connected to Linwei Ding, a former Google engineer convicted of stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets.

The United States State Department has imposed sanctions on five Chinese companies connected to Linwei Ding, a former Google engineer accused of intellectual property theft. The entities sanctioned include Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, which Ding founded, and MiraclePlus, a startup incubation programme. The other three sanctioned entities are linked to MiraclePlus.

According to the State Department, Ding touted his Google experience and claimed his company could replicate Google's super intelligence infrastructure technology. MiraclePlus provided seed capital to Zhisuan in exchange for an ownership stake. The State Department said Zhisuan 'has knowingly engaged in, or benefitted from, significant theft of trade secrets of United States persons, which occurred on or after January 5, 2023'.

Ding was charged in 2024 with stealing artificial intelligence trade secrets from Google whilst secretly working with two China-based companies. In January, a federal jury in San Francisco convicted him of several counts of economic espionage and theft of trade secrets. A judge later dismissed the economic espionage charges and sentenced him to 12 months in prison. The Justice Department is appealing the dismissal.

Beijing's commerce ministry expressed 'firm opposition' to the sanctions on Tuesday, calling the move egregious and urging the United States to 'correct its erroneous practice'. The ministry said Beijing would take 'necessary measures' in response, though it did not specify what these would be.

How it is being reported

• Beijing blasts US sanctions on 5 Chinese firms tied to ex-Google engineerBeijing has expressed strong opposition to U.S. sanctions on five Chinese companies linked to a former Google engineer accused of intellectual property theft.News4Jax · 20 Oct, 22:52
• Beijing blasts US sanctions on 5 Chinese firms tied to ex-Google engineerBeijing has expressed strong opposition to U.S. sanctions on five Chinese companies linked to a former Google engineer accused of intellectual property theft.Clickorlando · 20 Oct, 22:52

In this story: Linwei Ding · Google · Shanghai Zhisuan Technology · MiraclePlus · China · United States

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