Apple Car is the worst kept open secret in the industry today. If the Cupertino company still hasn’t officially confirmed the existence of its first 100% autonomous electric car, the numerous reports and leaks about it leave little room for doubt. Some employees disclose this confidential information directly to the leakers, while others try to sell it to competitors instead.
This was probably Xiaolang Zhang’s plan before he was arrested. In 2018, this former Google employee took paternity leave, which he took advantage of to travel to China. Upon his return, his sudden decision to resign only reinforces the already existing suspicions against him. He then announced to his superiors that he plans to work for Xmotors, a major Chinese company in the electric car industry.
Arrested before passing confidential documents from Apple to competition
Apple decides to investigate and then discovers that Xiaolang Zhang has taken advantage of the project’s privileged access to the database to download a 25-page document detailing the schematics of the Apple Car’s internal circuits. Security cameras also filmed it recovering prototype hardware and a Linux server. Xiaolang Zhang was arrested by police at San José airport while flying to China in July 2018.
On Monday, August 22, the former Apple employee pleaded guilty to industrial espionage in San José court. He now faces 10 years in prison and a fine of around 250,000 euros. The verdict of justice will be given next November. If necessary, further proof that Apple does not take confidential information leaks lightly.
Source : CNBC
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