[ad_1]
The engineer entered the service of Apple in 2015. In the Titan project, with which Apple wanted to develop autonomous cars, Zhang designed and tested printed circuit boards. Maps should support the badysis of sensor data. In his position, he got access to the confidential databases of the company, confirms the indictment. After the birth of his child in the spring, the accused went to his native China. After his paternity leave, he announced to Apple in April that he would retire to work at Xiapeng Motors (Xmotors), based in Guangzhou. The start-up develops electric vehicles.
Downloading Secret Plans
His supervisor discovered that Zhang had been evasive at his last meeting. This message has brought the security team of new Apple products to take a closer look at the employee. The security service checked his network activities and what contact Zhang had with which hardware. The team noted that the engineer had planned an increased transfer volume before his resignation. He allegedly conducted mbad searches in various confidential databases and specifically downloaded numerous pages of information on his wife's laptop. The prosecutor's article lists technical diagrams, manuals and reports. Also the data on the prototypes apparently belonged to him. Apple's Digital Forensic team found that at least 60% of the data downloaded was "problematic" and then forwarded the evidence to the FBI.
Mysterious visits and a box of equipment
Apple investigators suspect Zhang's visits. So he came on Saturday, April 28th on campus and entered the Apple labs for autonomous driving. The time stamps prove that this visit coincides with the time of downloads. In addition, Zhang left the area with a box of equipment. On July 7, the FBI arrested Xiaolang Zhang after crossing the security checkpoint at the San Jose airport to board a flight to China. In a poll conducted by federal investigators, he admitted to loading unmanned files on his wife's laptop to continue to access
Breaking the law and concealing theft
Zhang signed one when he entered the work Intellectual Property Agreement against which he manifestly violated. In addition, he risks a conviction for armed robbery, carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $ 250,000.
About 5,000 of the more than 135,000 Apple employees know about Apple's car project, of which about 2,700 have access to one or more databases on the project. Apple spokesman, Tom Neumayr, commented on the process as follows: "Apple takes the confidentiality and protection of our intellectual property very seriously, and we are working with the authorities on this issue, and we will do everything for this person and all others
Source link