Project Titan: Former Apple Employee Charged with Theft of Trade Secrets on Autonomous Car Tech

Isaiah Richard, Tech Times 16 May 2023, 08:05 pm

A former Apple employee is now facing theft charges from the US Department of Justice for his hands-on taking of the company's proprietary technology behind the autonomous driving development known as "Project Titan." These new charges are gunning for a previous employee of the company, Weibao Wang, who was with Apple from 2016 to 2018.

Another Former Apple Employee Stole Sensitive Info about Project Titan

Weibao Wang, a former employee of Apple, is facing theft charges after allegedly stealing trade secrets related to the company's Project Titan. According to the latest report by CNBC, Wang is accused of six separate counts of theft or attempted theft of Apple's proprietary technology.

Wang had been employed at Apple from 2016 to 2018 before he accepted a job offer from an unnamed Chinese company. In June 2018, Wang's San Francisco residence was served with a search warrant, however, upon being served, he violated an agreement not to flee the country and promptly flew to China in 2018.

Despite his departure, law enforcement officials continued to investigate the case. and during the search, law enforcement officials discovered "stolen, confidential, and proprietary data" related to Apple's autonomous driving technology.

The data found at his home suggested that Wang had unlawfully acquired and retained Apple's trade secrets.

Moreover, the DOJ said that these said sensitive files can only be accessed by 2,700 of the 135,000 Apple employees during the time.

Would Weibao Wang be Extradited to the US to Face Charges?

As per 9to5 Mac, DOJ officials revealed that Wang may be facing up to 10 years per charge should he be extradited, charged, and found guilty in this case.

It is unknown if the DOJ has further actions against Wang, and if there is already an arrangement of his extradition from China to the US. The law enforcement officials announced this at a press event today, which also centers on its "strike force," which aims to prevent foreign nationals to steal sensitive US trade secrets.

Apple's Project Titan and Apple Car Development

Project Titan, which is known as Apple's ambitious venture into the autonomous driving space, has been shrouded in secrecy. The company has been working on developing its self-driving car technology and has made unknown investments in research and development.

The alleged theft of trade secrets by Wang poses a serious threat to Apple's intellectual property and competitive advantage in the autonomous vehicle industry. Protecting trade secrets is crucial for companies to maintain a competitive edge in the global market, and such thefts can lead to significant financial and reputational damage.

There is also various information regarding the Apple Car, the self-driving electric vehicle of the tech company which is also a secret development, with many leaks, rumors, and speculations behind it.

The US is cracking down on trade secret theft, especially with foreign nationals who unknowingly steal it and takes it back to their home country to advance their technology, with Wang's case remaining unclosed.