US sanctions five Chinese entities over Google AI trade-secret case
Washington sanctioned Shanghai Zhisuan Technology, venture firm MiraclePlus and three affiliated entities over their links to former Google engineer Linwei Ding, convicted of stealing trade secrets. The US State Department says MiraclePlus provided Zhisuan with seed funding; the firm denies investing, while Beijing rejects the allegations and says it will take “necessary measures”.
Bottom line — Ding was sentenced to 12 months in prison, and the Justice Department is appealing the dismissal of his economic-espionage charges.
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The State Department says Ding claimed Zhisuan could replicate Google’s super-intelligence infrastructure.
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The US sanctions may include asset freezes and banking restrictions, according to Bloomberg.
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MiraclePlus said the sanctions came without prior communication and that it is seeking to have them lifted.
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China’s commerce ministry says the country’s AI progress comes from independent research and investment, not stolen trade secrets.
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A US jury convicted Ding of trade-secret theft in January; a judge later dismissed the economic-espionage charges.