FBI Accuses Chinese National of Stealing Autonomous Vehicle Trade Secrets From Apple [Video]

The FBI is accusing a Chinese engineer working at Apple of trying to steal trade secrets from the company's autonomous vehicle program, reports NBC. This the second time in six months that the FBI has accused a Chinese national of stealing trade secrets from Apple.

According to a federal criminal complaint unsealed this week, Apple opened an investigation into Jizhong Chen when another employee spotted him taking photos in a sensitive work space. Chen reportedly allowed Apple Global Security employees to search his personal computer where they found thousands of files containing Apple intellectual property including manuals, schematics, and diagrams. Additionally, they discovered around a hundred photographs taken inside an Apple building.


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Chen recently applied for a job at a China-based autonomous vehicle company that is a direct competitor to Apple. One of the photos found on Chen's computer showed a wiring harness Apple had designed for autonomous vehicles.

The engineer was arrested just a day before he was scheduled to fly to China.

"Apple takes confidentiality and the protection of our IP very seriously," the company said in a statement Tuesday. "We are working with authorities on this matter and are referring all questions to the FBI."

Read More [via Verge]