A former Apple engineer is headed for prison after pleading guilty to stealing trade secrets tied to the company’s self-driving car program, commonly known as Project Titan. Reports from HypeBeast provide the background for this case.
The individual, Xiaolan Zhang, was first charged by the FBI in 2018. During her time at Apple, her work focused on Project Titan, a program aimed at developing autonomous vehicle technology. After taking paternity leave, she did not return to Apple, instead taking a position with a startup in China that focused on autonomous driving systems.
Apple conducted its own internal review after Zhang’s departure, inspecting activity on company devices as part of the investigation. It became clear that Zhang had copied multiple files she had worked on during her tenure, including documents related to a driverless car plan. This action raised questions about confidential data access and security practices within the team working on the project.
Initially, Zhang maintained innocence when the charges were first filed in 2018. Four years later, she changed her plea to guilty. A California judge sentenced her to 120 days in jail, followed by three years of probation. In addition, Zhang was ordered to pay a substantial fine to Apple amounting to $146,984.
The case underscores the high stakes involved when trade secrets tied to cutting-edge technologies like autonomous driving are mishandled. It also highlights how major tech firms pursue accountability through legal channels to safeguard their R&D investments and the integrity of confidential projects.
As the legal process concluded, observers noted the broader implications for the tech industry where security, compliance, and the protection of proprietary information remain foundational elements of corporate strategy. Companies continue to emphasize robust data governance and clear guidelines on how engineers and researchers access sensitive materials, both inside the workplace and as employees transition to new ventures elsewhere.
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